IHC pulls up govt over tribunal delay

PM warned to appear in court if TAT member not appointed

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the federal government to appoint a member finance to the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal (TAT) by May 18.

The court warned that if the appointment is not made before the next hearing, PM Shehbaz Sharif will have to appear in person before the court on that date.

The court also ordered the cabinet secretary and law secretary to appear before it and explain the obstacles hindering the appointment of tribunal members.

IHC senior puisne judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued the order after hearing a case regarding the non-appointment of the member finance to the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal.

According to the written order, the assistant attorney general informed the court that the summary for the appointment had been returned by the government with objections.

The court noted that during the last four hearings, the federal government had repeatedly sought more time to complete the appointment process.

Granting what it described as another opportunity to the government, the court directed that the member finance be appointed before the next hearing.

It further ruled that if the appointment is not made, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with the cabinet secretary and law secretary, must appear before the court and provide an explanation regarding the reasons for the delay.

During the proceedings, the assistant attorney general told the court that a retired judge had been appointed to the tribunal. Justice Kayani observed that retired judges had caused considerable disruption by showing excessive interest in joining tribunals.

"Retired judges seem overly eager to join tribunals. They cannot sleep at night because they keep thinking about slots. If one desires, he joins the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC), while another finds a place in some other tribunal," he said.

The IHC adjourned further hearing of the case until May 18.

The Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal (TAT) in Pakistan is a specialized judicial body established to fast-track the resolution of disputes within the telecom sector, reducing the burden on High Courts.

Operationalized in early 2026 under the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal Act 2024, it was officially notified on September 28, 2024. The tribunal adjudicates appeals against the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) orders within a 90-day timeframe.