The Lahore High Court (LHC) has annulled the appointment of Lt. General Munir Afsar as Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), ordering his immediate removal. The decision was made in response to a petition filed by citizen Ashba Kamran, who challenged the legality of Afsar’s appointment.

Presiding over the case, Justice Asim Hafeez ruled in favor of the petitioner, declaring the appointment null and void. The court agreed with the argument that the caretaker government had exceeded its authority by amending the NADRA Act to appoint a serving military officer as chairman. The petition emphasized that interim governments should avoid making permanent policy changes.

Ashba Kamran’s petition specifically sought to nullify the amended NADRA rules and declare the appointment of a serving military officer to the post as unlawful.

Lt. Gen. Munir Afsar was appointed as NADRA Chairman by the caretaker federal government in October 2023, following a summary from the Ministry of Interior that included three recommended candidates. A notification confirmed Afsar’s appointment, marking the first time a serving military officer was chosen to lead NADRA.

Lt. Gen. Afsar has held several prominent military positions, including Inspector General of Communication and IT and Commander of the Pakistan Army Cyber Command. His appointment to NADRA was intended to leverage his expertise in communication and cybersecurity.