ISLAMABAD: Sacked chairman of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Chaudhry Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the unlawful termination of his contract.

Chaudhry Rashid had been appointed as Pemra chairperson on January 26 last year by the former government for four years. However, on December 15, the incumbent government terminated his contract.

The IHC stayed this termination of contract the next day, stating that due procedure had not been adopted for his sacking, which requires issuance of a show-cause notice and a charge sheet.

However, Chaudhry Rashid could not resume his responsibilities because of litigation issues and was finally shown the door again on April 17.

The order for the termination of Mr Rashid’s contract claimed that the president had dismissed him in accordance with the regulation of IHC.

Rashid said that he was not given an opportunity of full defence. A show-cause notice issued to him “does not make any allegations which may amount to misconduct,” the petition claimed.