ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: The president has sacked Chaudhry Rashid, the chairman of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), after his appointment was declared illegal.

According to an official notification issued on Sunday, President Mamnoon Hussain terminated the services of Mr Rashid. It said the president took the decision on the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to declare Mr Rashid`s appointment as Pemra chairman void ab initio, illegal and in violation of Supreme Court`s guidelines.

An official handout issued by the presidency said the appointment of Mr Rashid was neither open nor transparent.

`Chaudhry Rashid, being Secretary Information and serving government employee had initiated a summary proposing himself as candidate of chairman Pemra without carrying out open and transparent process for appointment, it said.