LHC orders reinstatement of NADRA chairman

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has set aside the single bench decision and reinstated the NADRA chairman.

The Lahore High Court has set aside the single bench decision to remove the NADRA chairman and accepted the federal government’s appeal.

Earlier on September 6, the Lahore High Court had ordered the removal of the NADRA chairman and annulled the appointment of Lieutenant General Munir Afsar. The federal government challenged the decision in the High Court.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal delivered the verdict on the appeal.

The federal government maintained that the single bench decision was contrary to the facts as the petition only challenged the notification of the caretaker government’s appointment of the chairman without contesting the new rules. The government requested the court to withdraw the decision.

Earlier, petitioner Ishba Kamran argued that the caretaker government amended the NADRA rules to allow the appointment of an active duty military officer, which she maintained was beyond its authority.

It is worth mentioning that in October 2023, the caretaker federal government appointed Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar, who was then serving as IG Communication and IT at GHQ, as Chairman NADRA.