The Islamabad High Court has summoned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his personal capacity over delays in appointing a Finance Member to the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani directed the prime minister to appear before the court on May 18 and explain the delay if the appointment is not made by the deadline.
The case centers on the vacant Finance Member position in the Telecommunication Appellate Tribunal, which hears appeals against decisions made by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. The court stressed that the tribunal cannot function effectively without its full composition.
The IHC also ordered the Secretary and Cabinet Secretary to appear at the hearing, signaling judicial concern over continued delays in operationalizing the tribunal.
During proceedings, Justice Kiani criticized the repeated appointment of retired judges to tribunals, questioning the practice and 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. While former judge Muhammad Tariq Abbasi has been appointed chairman, 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.
