ISLAMABAD: In a fresh development, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday suspended the single-bench Justice Babar Sattar’s order that had removed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman from his post.
A two-member division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Asif and Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas heard the intra-court appeals filed by the federal government, the PTA, and the removed chairman. Advocate Qasim Wadud appeared on behalf of retired Major General Hafeez Ur Rehman before court.
During the proceedings, PTA’s counsel Advocate Salman Mansoor raised serious procedural objections to the earlier ruling. “The single-bench decision granted relief that wasn’t even sought in the petition,” Mansoor told the court. “Neither were the rules governing the removal of the PTA chairman challenged, nor was a legal notice issued to the Attorney General before the order,” he argued.
PTA’s counsel further maintained that the judgement violated the principles laid out in Article 199 of the Constitution. “Relief cannot be granted for something that is not sought in the petition,” he contended. “Even [the] court acknowledged that arguments were not completed when the judgement was reserved,” he said.
He further argued that two petitions containing objections had been filed, but the bench reserved judgement without hearing those objections.
“[The] court reserved the verdict on a day when some of the counsel were on leave,” he maintained. At which, Justice Muhammad Asif said: “You were given ample opportunity to argue your case.” After hearing arguments, the court suspended Babar Sattar’s ruling and reinstated Hafeez Ur Rehman as PTA chairman.
