Court Orders Removal of Serving General from Pakistan's NADRA

In a landmark decision, the Lahore High Court annulled the appointment of Lieutenant General Munir Afsar as the chairman of Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority. The court ruled his appointment was unauthorized and violated procedural requirements. This decision challenges the influence of the military in civilian roles.

The Lahore High Court has annulled the appointment of Lieutenant General Munir Afsar as the Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), citing unauthorized appointment procedures. The decision was made following a petition filed by citizen Ashba Kamran.

In 2023, Lieutenant General Afsar was appointed to the position by the caretaker government led by Anwaarul Haq Kakar, and later confirmed by the federal government of Shehbaz Sharif. The court stated that his appointment bypassed the required fair and competitive process as mandated by the Nadra Ordinance, 2000.

Justice Asim Hafiz clarified that the government must follow constitutional provisions by advertising all such roles and ensuring a fair selection process. This ruling is viewed as a significant pushback against the military's involvement in civilian posts, a longstanding practice in Pakistan's political landscape.

(With inputs from agencies.)