ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested on Tuesday former acting chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), Dr Abdul Jabbar, and three others on the charge of making illegal appointments in the organisation.

The other arrested officials were: Sardar Arfan Ashraf, director general (licensing); Shahzad Nawaz Cheema, former Pemra director general (administration) who is currently serving as director, Benazir Income Support Programme; and Safdar Rehan, Pemra`s general manager.

According to sources, they made 60 appointments on 18 different positions in Pemra in violation of rules.

Dr Jabbar joined Pemra in April 2005 on deputation from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.

He managed to get himself permanently absorbed in Pemra on Feb 4, 2008, and assumed the charge as director general (technical). He was also a member of the Pemra board. His term expired in June last year.

He is presently serving as DG (operations) Pemra.

The controversial appointments were made in 2010 when Dr Jabbar was acting chairman of Pemra. The arrested officers were members of the recruitment committee.

Dr Jabbar had challenged the appointment of former information secretary Chaudhry Abdul Rasheed as Pemra chairman last year.

Consequently, Pemra sent him back to his parent department.

But the decision was overturned by the Islamabad High Court on grounds that he had been permanently absorbed in Pemra.

Dr Jabbar remained at the heart of controversy during the hearing of a case relating to formation of a media commission last year and the Supreme Court restrained him from discharging his duty as acting chairman.

`Pemra has been unable to appoint a permanent chairman for one and a half years.

Dr Abdul Jabbar was appointed as a caretaker, but he had been passing orders in abundance.

`Therefore, he cannot continue any further as the acting chairman,` the court ruled.