Lahore High Court Invalidates Appointment of Lt Gen Munir Afsar as NADRA Chairman – Startup Pakistan

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has canceled the appointment of Lieutenant General Munir Afsar as the Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). This decision came after a petition was filed, claiming that his appointment was both illegal and unconstitutional.

Justice Asim Hafeez announced the ruling after carefully considering the arguments presented by both sides in the case. Lt. Gen. Munir Afsar had been appointed as NADRA’s Chairman on October 2, 2023, following approval from the federal cabinet. He was chosen from a list of three shortlisted candidates.His appointment came shortly after the resignation of the previous chairman, Tariq Malik.

Malik stepped down from his position while facing an investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding a corruption scandal. Tariq Malik had previously served as NADRA’s chief during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.The court’s ruling has raised questions about the legality of the process through which appointments are made to important positions like the head of NADRA.

Many are now awaiting the government’s next move, as the appointment of the new chairman will likely go through further scrutiny to ensure that all legal and constitutional procedures are followed.