TERENCE J SIGAMONY

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the federal government to issue a notification of Muhammad Saleem Baig as chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) within two days.

Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed informed a three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, that the search committee has finalized the name of Saleem Baig for the post of chairman Pemra.

Absar Alam, who was appointed chairman Pemra on Dec 1, 2015, had stepped down from his post on December 17, 2017 shortly after the Lahore High Court declared his appointment illegal. The federal government on April 16, 2018 had constituted a search committee, which included eminent personalities from media for the appointment of chairman Pemra.

The committee comprised Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sartaj Aziz, Hameed Haroon, Arif Nizami, Chairman Pakistan Broadcasters Association Mian Amir Mehmood, Secretary Ministry of Information Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera and joint secretary Establishment Division. The committee was given six weeks to finalize the name for chairman Pemra. Hameed Haroon, a member of the committee appearing before the bench said that out of 150 candidates, who had applied for the post, they interviewed 60 persons and considered Saleem Baig as the most appropriate for this post.