MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court on Monday issued notices to the parties in various constitutional pleas challenging the appointment process of the Acting President of the Bank of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and directed them to submit their replies.
Acting Chief Justice of High Court Syed Shahid Bahar heard the petitions and ordered the respondents to file their responses.
The court also directed the parties to submit replies in another related petition by June 30 and adjourned further proceedings until that date.
During the hearing, Advocate Haroon Riaz Mughal, representing petitioner Rahila Javed and others, argued that the appointment of an acting president was being carried out in violation of the Bank of AJK Bye-Laws 2007 and the relevant policy framework.
He contended that any appointment made in breach of these rules would be unlawful.
During the hearing, the court was informed that a similar case is already pending in the High Court in which the bank management has sought more time to finalize the matter of the appointment of the president.
The petition also stated that the government was taking action to withdraw the charge from the acting president and give it to a new acting officer, against which a stay order was sought.
However, the court rejected the request for a stay order after the initial hearing and issued notices to the parties.
After reviewing the record, the court ruled that a detailed hearing on the legal points raised in the case was necessary. Further proceedings have been adjourned till June 30.
It was clarified in the court proceedings that all the parties will have to submit their replies by the due date, after which the case will be heard on the merits at the next hearing.
