ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday appointed Arshad Khan Jadoon as the chairman of the Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) with immediate effect and until further orders, as per a notification issued by the Establishment Division.

The print media regulator, the PCP, has been lying dormant for over four years as successive governments could not complete the process for appointing a chairman after end of the previous chairman Salahuddin Mengal’s term.

The process to appoint another chairman was initiated by the PTI government, but remained inconclusive. The PDM government then finalised names and pay scale for the slot of PCP chairman.

The name of Mr Jadoon was finalised, but President Dr Arif Alvi rejected the name and appointed Dr G.M. Chaudhry as PCP chairman.

Consequently, Mr Jadoon filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where the Ministry of Law and Justice opined that the president lacks the authority to exercise discretion, even if the law had empowered him to do so.

The court disposed of the matter, asking the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the administrative division of the PCP, to act in accordance with the law.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2024