LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday issued a notice to the federal government and sought a reply on a petition challenging the appointment of Ambreen Jan as chairperson of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).

A lawyer, Munir Ahmad, assailed the appointment, alleging lack of transparency in the process adopted by the government.

Advocate Azhar Siddique, on behalf of the petitioner, argued that the impugned appointment process appeared to be tailor-made and conspicuously diluted in comparison to the criteria adopted in previous recruitment advertisements for the post of the Pemra head in years 2014 and 2018.

He stated that the mala-fide intention of the government was evident from the timing and manner in which the appointment process had been initiated. He said it was alarming that the tenure of the outgoing Pemra chief had already expired on Sept 30, 2025, yet the government delayed the initiation of the recruitment process until Oct 10, allowing an inexplicable gap in the most crucial leadership position of the regulatory authority.

The counsel alleged that the delay had been orchestrated in such a manner that the final stage of the selection process coincided with the superannuation of respondent Ambreen Jan as a federal secretary, who herself happened to be the competent authority responsible for conducting and supervising the appointment process.

He alleged that the deliberate and calculated delay made a clear case of maladministration and ‘colourable exercise of power’, calling for a judicial review of the entire process by the court.

He contended that the impugned appointment was made without ensuring transparency and in disregard of established judicial precedents.

The counsel asked the court to set aside the appointment of Ambreen Jan as the Pemra chairperson and order the government to initiate a fresh process for the appointment strictly in accordance with the law.

Justice Khalid Ishaq issued a notice to the federal government for submission of a reply by the next hearing.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2026