The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has suspended the notification regarding dismissal of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman Tariq Malik.
The court also suspended notification of appointment of Brig. (retd) Zahid’s as new chairman.
Earlier in the day, the federal government had removed Tariq Malik from his post without notifying any reasons and had appointed Director General NADRA Sindh Brigadier (retd) Zahid as acting chairman of the authority.
Subsequently, Tariq Malik had challenged his removal from the key post in the IHC and had filed a petition through his lawyer Babar Sattar Advocate, stating that despite his contract the government had sacked him without any reason.
Tariq Malik was scheduled to brief the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about recounting of votes on Tuesday (today). However, the federal government cancelled his contract and removed him from his post.
The sources said that there was a possibility that Tariq Malik would be removed as chairman NADRA Chairman for not accepting pressure of an influential person.
The Election Tribunal had directed the NADRA chairman to verify thumb impressions of voters of NA-118 Lahore where Riaz Hussain of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had been declared successful, while M Zaman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had challenged his victory.
The sources said that the influential person had pressurized NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik to issue verified certificates of thumb impressions in accordance with his wishes.
But the Tariq Malik had made it clear that his post demanded that he should issue verified certificates of thumb impressions by keeping in view all facts and with honesty and impartiality. The influential person had told him that he should be ready to quit his post.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Tariq Malik was receiving life threats and his security had been tightened.