LHC reinstates Lt Gen Munir Afsar as NADRA chairman

Court suspended the earlier verdict, noting petition only challenged Afsar's appointment, not the amended rule itself

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has reinstated Lieutenant General Munir Afsar as chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) after suspending a previous court ruling that had declared his appointment null and void.

The decision was made by a two-member bench comprising Justices Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal and Ahmad Nadeem Arshad, following an intra-court appeal filed by the federal government.

The LHC’s September 6 verdict, which Justice Asim Hafeez announced, had ruled Afsar’s appointment as unlawful after a petition from a citizen, Ashba Kamran, argued that the caretaker government had overstepped its authority by approving the appointment of a serving army officer.

The petitioner claimed that the caretaker government had amended the NADRA Ordinance to accommodate the afsar's appointment, which contradicted the original policy that only an independent person could hold the post.

However, the government’s lawyer contended that the petition had only challenged the notification of Afsar's appointment, not the amended rule itself.

Based on this, the court suspended the earlier verdict, restoring Lt Gen Afsar as Nadra chairman.

The issue of appointing a serving officer to head NADRA had generated significant debate.

The interim federal cabinet had revised the rules in August last year, allowing for the position of NADRA chairman to be filled on deputation or secondment from government officials, including military personnel.

LHC orders removal of NADRA chairman Lieutenant General Muneer Afsar

The Lahore High Court had annulled the appointment of NADRA chairman Lt General Muneer Afsar on the previous Friday and ordered his immediate removal from office.

Justice Asim Hafeez ruled in favour of a petition filed by Ashba Kamran, a citizen who had challenged Afsar’s appointment, stating it was unlawful. The court accepted the petition and declared the appointment null and void.

The petitioner argued that the caretaker government had amended the NADRA Act to allow the appointment of a serving military officer as chairman, which was beyond its mandate.

The petition further stated that interim governments should not intervene in permanent policy matters.

The petitioner requested the court nullify the amended NADRA rules and declare the appointment of a serving military officer to the post of Chairman NADRA void.

Previously, the caretaker federal government approved the appointment of Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar as National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman in October 2023, following a summary submitted by the Ministry of Interior with three recommended candidates.

A notification issued after the decision confirmed that Afsar's appointment would take effect immediately.

Lt Gen Muhammad Munir Afsar became the first serving military officer to be appointed chairman of the NADRA.

In his role as a lieutenant general, Munir has held prominent positions, including Inspector General of Communication and IT and Commander of the Pakistan Army Cyber Command.