Justice Mughal sworn in as AJK chief election commissioner

Newly-elected CEC will also be required to fulfill his duty as chief justice Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court

MUZAFFARABAD: Chief Justice Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court (AJKHC)  Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal took oath as chief election commissioner (CEC) AJK to conduct general elections in the region, which is likely to be held in June.

The oath was administered by Chief Justice AJK Supreme Court (AJKSC) Justice Muhammad Azam Khan in the SC premises.



The newly-elected CEC will also be required to fulfill his duty as chief justice AJKHC .

AJK ministers, secretaries and judges along with lawyers were also present at the oath taking ceremony.

On February 11, Justice Mughal was appointed as new chief election commissioner of AJK through a notification.

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

The 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.

Addressing the media, AJK Rehabilitation Minister Abdul Majid Khan said, "The oath taking ceremony of the newly appointed CEC was a proof that the government is committed towards conducting the general elections on time."

Opposition parties should now concentrate on electioneering campaigns rather than levelling allegations against the ruling party, he said added.  "We hope that the new CEC would form a strategy to introduce a code of conduct for political parties to avoid incidents like the one in Nakyal.".

It is pertinent to mention here that AJKSC on February 9 took strong exception to non-implementation of its judgment of January 25 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.