In a significant legal development, the Lahore High Court on Friday annulled the appointment of Lt General Muneer Afsar as the Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), ordering his immediate removal from office.
Justice Asim Hafeez presided over the case and ruled in favor of a petition filed by Ashba Kamran, a concerned citizen who challenged Afsar’s appointment on the grounds of its legality. The court found the appointment unlawful and declared it null and void.
The petitioner argued that the caretaker government had overstepped its authority by amending the NADRA Act to enable the appointment of a serving military officer as chairman, a move she contended was beyond the mandate of an interim administration. Kamran emphasized that interim governments should refrain from making decisions that influence long-term policy matters.
Previously, the caretaker federal government had approved Lt Gen Muneer Afsar’s appointment in October 2023, following a summary from the Ministry of Interior that listed three candidates. The decision made Afsar the first serving military officer to hold the position of NADRA chairman.
During his military career, Lt Gen Muneer Afsar held several prominent roles, including Inspector General of Communication and IT and Commander of the Pakistan Army Cyber Command. His appointment to NADRA, however, has now been nullified by the court’s ruling.
The case has raised critical questions about the extent of powers held by caretaker governments, particularly regarding appointments to key positions within the state apparatus.
