The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued notices to respondents in a petition challenging the appointment of Ambreen Jan as Chairperson of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). A single-member bench comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the petition filed by citizen Suhail Sajjad Rana. The court also issued notices on the petitioner’s request seeking to restrain the PEMRA chairperson from performing official functions until the case is decided.
Petition Details
According to the petition, an advertisement for the post was published on October 10, 2025, after which a selection committee was constituted on October 17, 2025. The committee included the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. At the time, Ambreen Jan was serving as the ministry’s secretary.
The petitioner contended that Ambreen Jan subsequently constituted a scrutiny committee under her own supervision to examine applications for the position while also being a candidate for the same post. Counsel for the petitioner argued that the eligibility criteria and terms of the advertisement were specifically designed to favour Ambreen Jan. He maintained that an apparent conflict of interest existed because she was both a candidate and a member of the selection committee.
Allegations of Irregularities
The counsel further alleged that she participated in and endorsed her own selection and that the matter was later referred to the parliamentary committee constituted under Section 6(2A) of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002. Although the committee comprises four members, the appointment was approved by only two members, he claimed.
The petition also alleged that the approval was not unanimous and that the appointment process violated Supreme Court orders issued in 2018 and 2022. It argued that the appointment was made in breach of Sections 6 and 7 of the PEMRA Ordinance and that the eligibility criteria for the chairperson’s office differed from those applicable to the head of the Council of Complaints.
Court Proceedings
After preliminary arguments, Justice Tahir observed that the issues raised required consideration and issued notices to the respondents for reports and para-wise comments. The case was adjourned until July 8.
Meanwhile, another IHC bench disposed of a petition seeking the signatures of PTI founder Imran Khan on a power of attorney required for filing an appeal before the Supreme Court after the signed document was provided to the petitioner.
During proceedings before Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, the petitioner withdrew the case, stating that the requested relief had already been granted. Advocate General Islamabad Naveed Hayat Malik informed the court that the order had been complied with and submitted a report confirming that the signed power of attorney had been provided.
Counsel Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry pointed out that in another case, despite orders from a division bench, a power of attorney had yet to be signed and delivered. Justice Soomro observed that the matter referred to was not before the court and could not be addressed in the present proceedings. The petition was subsequently disposed of.
Lahore Police Security Plan
In a separate development, Lahore police unveiled a comprehensive Muharram security plan for 458 processions, ensuring strict security measures during the holy month.
