ISLAMABAD: Allowing Chaudhry Rashid Ahmed to resume working as the head of the electronic media watchdog, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday dismissed a federal government plea seeking to restrain him from assuming charge as chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi heard the application, filed by the federal government, asking for a suspension of the high court decision that restored Mr Ahmed to his position as Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority chairman.

The application was filed by Additional Attorney General (AAG) Afnan Karim Kundi.

At the outset, Justice Qureshi asked Idrees Ashraf, counsel for the Pemra chairman, the factual position regarding Mr Ahmed assuming charge as Pemra chief.

AAG Kundi, on the other hand, informed the court that Mr Ahmed assumed charge on his own.

Govt counsel says Mr Ahmed assumed charge ‘on his own’, did not follow procedure

“He did not inform the federal government after the judgment was announced. Instead of applying with a copy of the court verdict and submitting it to the relevant departments, he went straight to Pemra headquarters and took charge of the chairman’s office,” he said.

Justice Qureshi asked whether “the petitioner [Chaudhry Rashid] needed any approval from the government after obtaining a court order”.

“The government is ready to implement the court order in letter and spirit but there are some guidelines given in the rules of business that should have been followed,” AAG Kundi explained.

The learned judge observed that since Mr Ahmed had already assumed charge as Pemra chairman, there was no need to suspend the order that he passed on May 25, 2015.

Earlier, on May 25, the IHC had restored Mr Ahmed after accepting his petition seeking reinstatement.

The court had observed that the time given Mr Ahmed to prove his innocence was insufficient, adding that the accused was not given access to certain documents, which he needed to prove his case.

Chaudhry Rashid Ahmed, a former information and broadcasting secretary, was appointed chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government on Jan 26, 2013.

On Dec 15, 2013, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government terminated his contract and appointed Tehsin Ali Khan acting chairman.

The IHC, however, reinstated Mr Ahmed after observing that ‘due process’ was not adopted for his termination. The government then constituted a committee to probe allegations of misconduct against Mr Ahmed. President Mamnoon Hussain, endorsing the recommendations of the committee on April 17, had terminated Mr Ahmed’s services once again.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2015

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