MIRPUR (Kashmir English): Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Supreme Court Bar Association (AJK SCBA) has warned that any deviation from the Constitution is unacceptable as it reaffirmed unwavering commitment to the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental rights.
AJK SCBA President Javaid Najam-us-Saqib Advocate-led veteran lawyers forum expressed serious concern over the prolonged non-functioning of the Service Tribunal, which, it said, has left thousands of employees deprived of justice for years.
In a statement released to the media, the SCBA demanded immediate reconstitution of the Tribunal, with its Chairman and Members appointed from among the legal fraternity, to restore timely adjudication and strengthen institutional credibility.
The Association highlighted the persistent vacancy of the Chief Election Commissioner, terming it a breach of constitutional responsibility.
It urged the government to fill the post without delay and called for reforms to ensure such constitutional offices are not limited to retired bureaucrats but also open to qualified lawyers.
SCBA on vacant positions in High Court
On judicial appointments, the SCBA stressed the urgent need to fill all vacant positions in the High Court, emphasising that judges for the superior judiciary should be appointed from among practicing AJK lawyers to safeguard judicial independence and ensure effective dispensation of justice.
The Association also underscored the importance of accountability, calling for the appointment of a neutral Chairman of the Ehtesab (Accountability) Bureau, free from political influence, to make the Bureau independent and genuinely answerable to the public.
The SCBA President Javaid Najam-us-Saqib said that the legal fraternity will continue its struggle for constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, and the protection of the people’s rights adding any attempt at constitutional deviation or breach of law will be firmly resisted.
