The Islamabad High Court has summoned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his personal capacity over the delay in appointing a finance member to the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal, escalating judicial scrutiny of a vacancy that has slowed the tribunal’s full functioning.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani, who is hearing the case, directed the prime minister to appear before the court on May 18 and explain the delay if the appointment is not made by then.
The case relates to the failure to fill the post of finance member in the tribunal, which hears appeals against decisions of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Justice Kiani said the appointment must be completed by the next hearing, warning that the prime minister would otherwise have to explain the reasons for the delay.
The court also directed the secretary concerned and the cabinet secretary to appear at the hearing.
During proceedings, Justice Kiani criticized the continued appointment of retired judges to tribunals, saying the practice had not produced positive results. He remarked that retired judges appeared to have an unusual attachment to such posts and, in a sharp aside, suggested some remained drawn to the privileges associated with office even after retirement.
The Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal was established in January 2024 to speed up dispute resolution in the telecom sector and hear appeals against PTA decisions within 90 days.
The tribunal comprises a chairman, two technical members and a finance member. Former Lahore High Court judge Justice Muhammad Tariq Abbasi was appointed chairman in February 2026, while Imad Memon has been designated as one of the technical members.
However, the finance member’s position remains vacant, raising concerns over the tribunal’s ability to operate at full capacity and meet its mandate of resolving cases within the prescribed timeframe.
