Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar reinstated as Chairman NADRA

LAHORE, Sep 10 (SABAH): A two-member bench comprising Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal and Justice Asim Hafeez of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has reinstated Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar to the post of Chairman National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

A two-member bench comprising Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal and Justice Asim Hafeez heard the intra-court appeal against the removal of Chairman NADRA from office on Tuesday and reinstated Chairman NADRA. Justice Asim Hafeez of Lahore High Court had ordered the removal of NADRA Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar. A citizen Ashba Kamran had challenged the appointment of Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar as chairman NADRA.

Justice Asim Hafeez of Lahore High Court issued a 30-page decision. The court declared that the appointment of Chairman NADRA is null and void. A copy of the decision should be sent to the Federal Cabinet and the Ministry of Interior. The court said that the appointment of Chairman NADRA is without legal justification, the competent authority has exercised powers related to the appointment of Chairman NADRA which are not prescribed by law.

It should be remembered that on October 2, 2023, the caretaker federal government appointed IG Communication and IT Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar, who was posted at the General Headquarters (GHQ) at that time, as the chairman of the NADRA till further orders.

After the caretaker cabinet meeting chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, it was said in a statement released on the social media website X that the federal cabinet has appointed Lt. Gen. Munir Afsar out of the three proposed names for the chairman NADRA on the summary of the Ministry of Interior. The statement said that the cabinet was informed that the selection committee had shortlisted the names of three best candidates for the chairmanship of NADRA and the cabinet, after detailed consideration, chose the new chairman of NADRA.