The appointment of Ambreen Jan as the next head of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has been delayed for more than a month, despite her selection by a parliamentary committee and the position remaining vacant since October.

According to information shared by an official source with Dawn, the summary sent to the Prime Minister’s Office has not progressed due to objections related to Ms Jan’s security clearance. Her confirmation is required before the summary can be forwarded to the Presidency for final approval.

Ambreen Jan, a former federal secretary for information and a Grade-22 officer, previously served as director general of Radio Pakistan, managing director of Pakistan Television Corporation, and as press counsellor in Bangladesh from 2011 to 2018. If appointed, she would be the first woman to lead the media regulator.

She was among five candidates initially shortlisted for the position, alongside retired Brigadier Anwar Ahmed, journalist Mateen Haider, Irfan Ashraf and Dr Hamid Khan. The list was later narrowed to three, excluding Irfan Ashraf and Dr Khan, before the parliamentary committee selected Ms Jan as its recommended nominee.

Under recent amendments to the Pemra Act, a four-member parliamentary committee—comprising representatives from the National Assembly and the Senate, with equal representation from the treasury and opposition—now has the authority to propose a candidate for the post. The committee completed this task over a month ago, but the summary remains pending at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The position has been vacant since the retirement of Saleem Baig in September last year. Mr Baig, also an officer of the Information Group, became Pemra’s longest-serving chairperson following his appointment in 2018 and reappointment in 2022. His predecessor, Absar Alam, left the post in 2017 after a decision by the Lahore High Court.