IHC restrains Naeem Bukhari from working as PTV chairman

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday restrained Naeem Bukhari from working as the chairman of the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) and refered the matter to the federal cabinet to review it in light of the apex court's.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah presided the hearing of a petition against the appointment of Bukhari as chairman of the state-run television. The court asked the representative of the Ministry of Information whether the government had relaxed the age limit.

To which the representative replied that ‘it has been relaxed’.

The chief justice inquired about the reasons for easing the age limit, upon which the ministry’s representative replied that “we have written that Naeem Bukhari is qualified for the post and has a lot of experience whereas we also sent a summary on November 13 [2020] and another on November 26 [2020].”

Justice Minallah remarked that neither the cabinet had made any decision on age relaxation nor was the correct summary sent.

“You did not read the relevant portion of the Supreme Court’s decision while sending the summary,” the justice remarked. “You will cause the cabinet embarrassment if you forward them a summary without reading the decision.”

The court further remarked that the Ministry of Information was not authorised to appoint PTV chairman.

The Supreme Court had clearly written that the federal government cannot make anyone chairman, whether they get paid or not is a different matter, the IHC added.

“Explain the procedure, you yourself appointed Naeem Bukhari as chairman and sent a summary to the cabinet,” the court maintained.

The IHC sent the matter to the federal cabinet to review it under the decision of the apex court.

“Naeem Bukhari is respectable for us, but not above the law,” the court added.

Also Read: Naeem Bukhari appointed as PTV Chairman

Last year in December, the IHC issued a notice to the federal government over the appointment of Bukhari as PTV board and managing director of the state-run television.

Chief Justice of IHC Athar Minallah presided over the hearing of the petition of citizen Arsalan Farrukh through his counsel wherein he pleaded that Bukhari’s appointment was not according to the guidelines set by the Supreme Court.

“What is illegal in the notification,” Justice Minallah asked the counsel during the proceedings while referring to the notification issued by the government on November 24.

The lawyer prayed upon the court that the position was not advertised for in any newspaper, which is mandatory.

“Naeem Bukhari is also over 65 years,” the counsel further prayed.

The petitioner's counsel also cited SC’s judgment on Ataul Haq Qasmi’s appointment as director and chairman of PTV for reference.