MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday temporarily suspended the decision of the AJK Election Tribunal that terminated the AJK Legislative Assembly membership of Sardar Mir Akbar Khan.
On July 22, 2025, the Tribunal declared the elections to constituency LA-15 (Sharqi Bagh), that held in July 2021, null and void due to alleged rigging and administrative irregularities.
Later, Sardar Mir Akbar Khan had lodged a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the Tribunal’s verdict.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Khawaja Naseem and Judge Raza Ali Khan, heard the plea and announced the verdict today, reinstating the assembly membership of Mir Akbar was reinstated.
The apex court stated that the operation of the impugned judgment would remain suspended until the final disposal of the appeal.
The court observed that the Election Tribunal’s decision to declare the entire constituency’s election void was beyond the pleadings, as the petitioners had only challenged the election process at 17 out of 168 polling stations.
The court also noted that the Tribunal had attributed corrupt or illegal practices to the polling staff without making them a party to the case.
With the final decision still pending, if the Tribunal’s decision is restored, by-elections would have to be held by October 22, 2025.
