ISLAMABAD: As the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday vacated a stay order against an extension in the contract of the CEO of Pak Datacom, the largest public sector data network in Pakistan, the management appointed a new CEO and the company secretary.

Justice Athar Minallah, however, referred the petition to the chief justice of the IHC with the remarks that the case might be entrusted to any other available bench.

Earlier this week, around 85pc shareholders of Pak Datacom reportedly passed a resolution to remove three directors of the company.

Pak Datacom is a subsidiary of Telecom Foundation, which has 55pc equity in the company, whereas the general public and foreign investors have 45pc stake.

An official of Pak Datacom filed a petition with the IHC, claiming he was removed from his post in February 2016 after 22 years of service without the issuance of a show-cause notice at a time when he had been shortlisted for the post of the CEO.

According to the petition, the term of retired Brigadier Arshad Kayani as the CEO expired on April 30, 2015, but the board extended his contract for another three years in an allegedly unlawful manner.

The petition said for the appointment and reappointment of the CEO in any public sector entity, the organisation was required to advertise the post to allow qualified individuals to apply for the job.

The petitioner maintained that he was issued a show-cause notice when he had been shortlisted for the post. The court had issued a stay order on the petition which was vacated on Friday.

Soon after the vacation of the stay, the chairman of Pak Datacom issued a notification appointing Syed Abrar Hussain as the CEO and Farhat Mansoor as the company secretary of the organisation.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2016