Under pressure: AJK poll body gets new chief

MUZAFFARABAD: Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal was appointed new chief election commissioner of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) through a notification.

The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) gave in to the wishes of the local apex court on Thursday, following a contempt notice issued by the apex court of the region.

A notification was issued by the AJK’s Ministry of Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights hours before the deadline set by region’s highest court.

The AJK Supreme Court had issued contempt of court notice to the state’s government for non-appointment of chief election commissioner two days ago.

The AJK government, following court notice, issued the notification of appointment of the AJK High Court Chief Justice Mughal as the chief election commissioner.

The general elections in AJK are likely to be held in June this year.

“The president of AJK on the advice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council is pleased to appoint Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal as chief election commissioner.

In addition to his duties as such for a term of three years or till his retirement whichever is earlier,” reads the notification.

The notification shall take effect from date CEC takes oath of office

It is pertinent to mention here that AJKSC on February 9 took strong exception to non-implementation of its judgment of January 25, 2016 on the appointment of CEC, directing for personal appearance of AJK law minister and chief secretary.

On January 25, the AJKSC had ruled that an advice issued by the Kashmir Council on November 16, 2015 about the appointment of Chief Justice Mughal as permanent CEC was valid and legal.

More than a week before the announcement of the judgment, the AJK government got the law dealing with terms and conditions of the CEC amended from the Legislative Assembly, while the matter was still sub judice in the AJKSC.

PML-N assembly members Chaudhry Tariq Farooq and Dr Najeeb Naqi filed an application in the AJKSC for initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the AJK government and others concerned for not honouring its January 25, 2015 directives.

On Monday, the AJKSC Chief Justice, Muhammad Azam Khan remarked that prima facie it did constitute a case for contempt of court proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th,  2016