ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court declared on Monday that the appointment of Tariq Malik as chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority was legal.

In a short order, Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi set aside notifications issued by the federal government about removal of Mr Malik and appointment of retired Brig Zahid Hussain as acting chairman.

The court had reserved the judgment on Dec 13.

But on Jan 10, three days before announcement of the judgment on a petition seeking his reinstatement, Mr Malik quit the job.

When contacted, Mr Malik told Dawn that he would not take his resignation back because he could not work in a hostile environment with his hands tied.

The government counsel, Akram Shaikh, had argued that the PPP government had appointed Mr Malik in violation of rules and procedure.

He told the court that Mr Malik was appointed as general manager networks the day he had applied for the job and within six months he was promoted to the post of deputy chairman.

He was drawing a monthly salary of Rs2.1 million, which was higher than what the chief justice of Pakistan got, Advocate Shaikh said.

Mr Malik undertook 117 foreign visits without approval of the competent authority, he added.

Advocate Babar Sattar, the counsel for Mr Malik, argued that the appointment of his client was made in accordance with the Nadra Ordinance.

He told the court that Mr Malik fulfilled the criteria regarding professional competence that was evident from his resume.