Gilani appoints acting AJK CJ

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has returned the references of both the judicial councils of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and appointed Khawaja Shahad as the acting chief justice of AJK. Remand orders have been issued against Chief Justice Manzur Gilani and non-functional chief justice Riaz Akhtar.

According to sources, premier Gilani has returned the references of the two judicial councils of AJK and has constituted a new judicial council headed by the acting chief justice. The other members in the council are justices Mustafa Mughal and Younus Tahir. Sardar Atiq told Express that the PM enjoys constitutional authority to make decisions as the chairman of the Kashmir council and the decision of the government of Pakistan is accepted openheartedly.

According to the sources, the offices of Aiwan-i-Sadar and Aiwan-i-Wazir-i-Azam in Kashmir House have opened after unusual activities. Sources said that an important meeting between President Raja Zulqurnain and Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider was held on Monday night.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 11th, 2010