MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir has formulated its opinion on the presidential reference filed under Section 46-A of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government Act, 1974 and sent it to the President of Azad Kashmir in a sealed envelope.
The reference, which was heard under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram Khan, relates to the 12 seats of refugees, constitutional amendment powers and the expected general elections.
The direction of the ongoing constitutional and political debate is likely to become clear once the details of the decision are revealed.
AJK Supreme Court reserves verdict on refugee seats reference
The Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has completed the hearing of the Presidential Reference filed by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government regarding the constitutional and legal future of 12 seats reserved for refugees of Jammu and Kashmir in the Legislative Assembly and reserved its decision.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Justice Raja Saeed Akram Khan and Justice Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry reserved the decision after hearing detailed arguments on various constitutional, legal and public importance points on refugee seats reference.
The decision will be sent to President of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
During the hearing, the court obtained the opinions of judicial assistants and senior lawyers on various constitutional questions raised in the refugee seats reference.
Hearing on the Presidential Reference
Senior lawyer Raja Sajjad Ahmed Khan, as a judicial assistant, took the position that under Article 33 of the Interim Constitution of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Legislative Assembly has full legislative power and the issue of refugee seats should have been considered in the forum of the High Power Committee.
He also presented the reference of the negotiations between the Federal Committee and the Joint Public Action Committee before the court.
Barrister Humayun Nawaz, Raja Sadaqat Hussain and Sardar Abdul Raziq, among other jurists, also presented their legal points. During the hearing, former Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan, former Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Rashid and Member of Legislative Assembly of the Refugee Seat Abdul Majid Khan appeared in the court in their personal capacity.
