Age limit for Nadra chief challenged in IHC

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench Thursday issued notices to the Ministry of Interior and Nadra in a petition that challenged the age limit for the appointment of Chairman Nadra.

Petitioner Lt Col (R) Muhammad Talha Saeed, director general (registration) of Nadra, nominated federation of Pakistan through secretary interior and chairman Nadra as respondents.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui issued notices to the respondents directing them to submit reply within a fortnight. IHC bench also directed the respondents not to notify the final candidate till adjudication of this matter but the authorities can continue with the selection process for chairman Nadra.

Petitioner Talha Saeed in his petition adopted before the court that he fulfills the whole criterion for being selected as chairman and previously he was among the candidates selected for interview. This time federal government has fixed the age limit as 55 years to which the petitioner is above.

He submitted that to exclude an eminently qualified candidate purely on the basis of age is blatantly discriminatory and unlawful. He said that he has been working as director general (registration), Nadra, since August 20, 2011.

In response to an advertisement dated December 23, 2017, petitioner expressed his desire to apply for the post of chairman of the authority.