The Lahore High Court has invalidated Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afzal’s appointment as Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
Responding to a petition that challenged his legitimacy, the court ruled that the caretaker government had no authority to amend the NADRA law to accommodate this appointment.
The petition, filed by citizen Ashba Kamran, argued that appointing an active military officer as NADRA Chairman exceeded the caretaker government’s powers. In delivering the verdict, Justice Asim Hafeez declared the appointment null and void and ordered Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afzal’s removal from his position.
The decision follows the caretaker federal government’s initial appointment of Lt. Gen. Munir Afzal on October 2, 2023. At that time, he served as IG Communications and IT at the General Headquarters (GHQ) and was appointed indefinitely. After the general elections on February 8, 2024, the elected federal government confirmed this appointment for a three-year term. The Ministry of Interior finalized the decision with a March 29, 2024 circulation summary.
The court’s decision highlights challenges in the appointment processes and the roles of caretaker governments, marking a pivotal moment in managing national institutions. Lt. Gen. Munir Afzal succeeded Asad Rehman Gillani, who had taken over from Tariq Malik following his resignation in 2023, a year before his term ended.
