LHC declares removal of Absar Alam as PEMRA chairman

The Lahore High Court (LHC) declared on Monday, the appointment of Absar Alam as chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) illegal and ordered a new chairman to be appointed within 30 days.

LHC Justice Shahid Karim announced the verdict on a petition filed by a citizen, Munir Ahmad. In the petition Ahmad had challenged the appointment of the senior journalist as chairman PEMRA, local media reported. Ahmad said that Alam had been receiving salary of Rs1.5 million a month despite his post being equal to that of the MP-I (Management Position) scale. The maximum salary of MP-I was Rs.4,50,000, Ahmad informed the court.

During the last hearing on November 29, the court had reserved its verdict after hearing arguments from the lawyers. PEMRA’s counsel had sought time to finish records pertaining to the appointed. The court however, had rejected the request.

Alam had been appointed as chairman of PEMRA on the advice of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2015.