IHC Orders PM Shehbaz to Appear in Court on May 18 Over Telecom Tribunal Appointment Delay

Islamabad High Court Issues Warning to Prime Minister Over PTA Tribunal Appointment

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a stern warning on Tuesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif may be summoned if the appointment of a Member Finance to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) tribunal is not made by May 18.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani directed the prime minister to appear before the court on May 18 and explain the delay, should the appointment not be finalized by the deadline. The case revolves around the vacant Finance Member position in the PTA tribunal, which hears appeals against decisions made by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.

The IHC emphasized that the tribunal cannot function effectively without its full composition, ordering the Secretary and Cabinet Secretary to attend the hearing. This reflects judicial concern over ongoing delays in operationalizing the tribunal.

During proceedings, Justice Kiani criticized the practice of appointing retired judges to tribunals, questioning its impact on institutional performance. The Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal, established in 2024 to resolve telecom disputes within 90 days, includes a chairman, two technical members, and a finance member. Former judge Muhammad Tariq Abbasi has been appointed as the chairman, but the Finance Member position remains vacant.

Legal observers say the vacancy has affected the tribunal’s full operational capacity and raised concerns over delays in telecom dispute resolution.