SC directs Islamabad court to settle NADRA chief case in a month

Govt had removed Malik, however, Islamabad High Court reinstated him the next day and suspended termination orders.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court directed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to settle the case of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) chairperson Tariq Malik in a month, Express News reported on Tuesday.

In a surprise move, the government had removed Malik on the night of December 3 and appointed a new chairman within hours. However, the IHC had reinstated him the next morning and suspended his termination orders.

Forwarding the government's request challenging the reinstatement, the apex court also ordered the IHC to make a decision regarding its stay order in 15 days.

Saga

Malik's sacking came only days after an election tribunal asked NADRA to verify the thumb impressions of voters from the Lahore constituency NA-118, won by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Malik Riaz.

The opposition parties had teamed up against the government over sacking as they built up their case that the move was aimed at concealing rigging in general elections.

The Express Tribune had also learnt that an audit team – on the wishes of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan – had prepared a 14-point charge-sheet against the NADRA chief.

Malik's counsel had rejected government's claims.