ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has rejected the summary of outgoing Pakistan Telecom Authority Chairman Dr Ismail Shah’s reappointment, and directed the Cabinet Division to advertise the post of the authority’s chairman, The Nation has learnt. 

Sources told The Nation that the premier had also raised serious observations on the summary of Dr Shah’s appointment again as PTA chief and sent it back to the Cabinet Division.

The PM has said the re-appointment Of Dr Shah as PTA chairman will be violation of the Supreme Court’s order.

The four-year tenure of Dr Shah as PTA chairman ended on November 12th, 2017.

Earlier, a special committee headed by Interior Minister Ashan Iqbal had recommended extending the service tenure of Dr Shah for another four years. 

The PM had formed special committee headed by Iqbal, and comprising secretary Information Technology, additional secretary Establishment Division, additional secretary Cabinet Division and additional secretary Law Division with the task to recommend the name for the PTA chairman slot.

The committee reviewed the performance of Dr Shah and recommended the extension in his service tenure for another four years. The committee had forwarded a summary along with its recommendations to the prime minister for final approval.

The sources said that one of the committee members had also suggested that the post should be advertised and new PTA chairman should be appointed through due process.

According to the PTA rules, the PTA chairman and members of the authority are appointed for four years and the prime minister can approve the extension in their services.

In 2013, Dr Shah was appointed as the PTA chairman with the approval of former premier Nawaz Sharif.