Sindh Journalists Protection Commission Chair Resigns Amid Cabinet Push for New Appointment
On September 12, Justice (retd) Nazar Akbar, chairperson of the Sindh Commission for Protection of Journalists and Media Practitioners (SCPJMP), resigned following the Sindh provincial cabinet’s decision to initiate a new appointment for the role. The cabinet had instructed the information department to draft a fresh summary for the post after concerns were raised regarding Justice Akbar’s appointment by the caretaker government.
In his resignation letter to the Sindh chief minister, Justice Akbar explained that he was appointed as the SCPJMP chairperson following the passing of former chairperson Justice Rasheed A. Razvi. Despite this appointment, Justice Akbar clarified that he was not interested in the role and that his name had been put forward without his consent. The caretaker information minister informed him of his appointment in February 2024.
Justice Akbar recounted that after two-and-a-half months of smooth functioning at the commission, a summary was initiated by the information secretary on May 15 for the determination of the terms and conditions of the chairperson’s position, as required under the SCPJMP Act, 2021. He stated that the summary was presented before the provincial cabinet on July 11. Still, the cabinet’s decision was never officially communicated to him, even though it directly related to his office.
The cabinet had instructed the information department to prepare a new summary for the appointment of a fresh chairperson along with new terms and conditions. He emphasized that the SCPJMP Act outlines clear procedures for appointing and removing the commission’s chairperson. He further pointed out that, based on legal advice, there was no vacancy for the chairperson position and that the caretaker government had made his appointment lawfully.
Justice Akbar noted that the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) had advocated strongly for the appointment of a retired judge rather than a retired bureaucrat to the post following the death of the previous chairperson. Despite these developments, journalist bodies have not issued any response.
In his resignation, Justice Akbar stated that he was stepping down in accordance with Section 10(3) of the SCPJMP Act to facilitate the cabinet’s decision to appoint a new chairperson. He requested that his resignation be accepted promptly to allow for a fresh appointment, as law requires.
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