MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The High Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has suspended the notification issued on July 28 regarding the removal of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kotli, Imran Shaheen.
Senior High Court judge Justice Syed Shahid Bahar issued the verdict in the case of Imran Shaheen v. Government of Azad Kashmir.
The court has fixed August 12 as the next hearing date for the case.
A day after the first phase of the election in the region, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government carried out a major administrative reshuffle, suspending several senior civil and police officers, including DC Kotli, over alleged negligence in maintaining law and order and dereliction of official duties.
According to official notifications, Superintendent of Police (SP) Kotli, Adeel Ahmed, and Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kotli, Imran Shaheen, were suspended for alleged negligence and failure to maintain effective law and order in the district.
Muhammad Usman Saram was appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner of Kotli in place of Imran Shaheen.
Similarly, three officers of the Chief General Inspectors Department were suspended, including Senior Chief General Inspector Sartaj Aziz, who has been removed from office.
The government had also announced to initiate further proceedings against him under theunder the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Civil Servants Rules, 1977.
Following the decision, Syed Usman Azam was appointed as the acting Senior Chief General Inspector, while Syed Israr Shah has been appointed as the acting Deputy Chief General Inspector.
In addition, SHO Saddar Police Station, Mirpur, was also suspended over alleged negligence and dereliction of duty and directed to report to Police Lines during the suspension period until further orders.
The government sources said that the government has made it clear that no negligence will be tolerated in the protection of public life and property and the enforcement of law, while further steps are expected to improve administrative performance.
