IHC Sets May 18 Deadline for Telecom Tribunal Appointment, Warns It Will Summon PM

Overview

• The Islamabad High Court, in Tuesday's hearing, ordered the government to appoint the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal's finance member by May 18 or require Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appear in person.
• Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani also directed Law Secretary Raja Naeem Akbar and Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal to appear and explain the delay.
• The assistant attorney general told the court the appointment summary was sent back with objections after four prior requests for extra time, leading the judge to set a firm cut-off.
• The government lawyer added that a retired judge had joined the tribunal, which drew sharp criticism from Justice Kayani over placing retirees in specialised regulatory roles.
• The tribunal, created by a 2024 law to hear telecom and cyber appeals within 90 days with a three-member bench, remains hampered without its finance expert, slowing relief for companies and consumers.