Pakistani court reinstates official sacked by government

In a setback for the Pakistan government, a court today reinstated the chief of the electronic media regulator hours after he was sacked for alleged corruption.
The Islamabad High Court reinstated Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Chairman Rashid Ahmad to his post.
According to a notification issued last night, President Mamnoon Hussain had sacked Ahmad for his alleged involvement in corruption and illegal activities.
The court declared his dismissal null and void and issued a stay order against his removal. The court also issued notices to the acting chairman of PEMRA, the Information Secretary and the government, seeking their responses on the issue.

Rashid was appointed chairman of the media watchdog on January 28 by former President Asif Ali Zardari after a ruling by the apex court barred then acting chairman Abdul Jabbar from holding office.
The government had on December 3 sacked National Database and Registration Authority chief Tariq Malik but he too was reinstated by the Islamabad High Court hours later. The court set aside the notification cancelling Malik's contract.