MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The appointment of seven members to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission has been challenged in the High Court, with the court seeking a response from the government over the legality of the appointments.
The petition was filed by senior lawyer Saqib Ahmed Abbasi under the title Maaz Abdullah v. Government of Azad Kashmir. It challenges the appointments made on August 8, 2026, when the former government appointed seven members to the commission for a three-year term.
The appointed members are Munir Hussain Chaudhry, Dr. Liaquat Hussain, Muhammad Zahid Khan Abbasi, Abdul Quddus, Dr. Abdul Hameed, Ms. Midhat Shahzad and Dr. Saleem Khan.
Speaking to Kashmir Digital, petitioner Saqib Ahmed Abbasi said the petition questions the authority of the former coalition government, comprising the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, to make the appointments after completing its five-year constitutional tenure.
Another objection raised in the petition concerns the status of the president at the time. The petitioner maintains that the president was serving in an acting capacity and argues that the appointments could not legally be made under those circumstances.
The petition also raises questions about the three-year tenure granted to the newly appointed members. It refers to the Public Service Commission Act, arguing that the commission is automatically dissolved upon completion of the chairman’s tenure. Since the current chairman’s term is scheduled to end in January 2027, the petitioner has questioned how the members could be appointed for a period extending beyond that date.
Furthermore, the petition contends that the appointments were made despite an applicable ban and after the announcement of the election schedule. It argues that no relaxation was obtained from the Election Commission, making the appointments liable to be declared null and void.
Justice Shahid Bahar heard the petition and sought a response from the Azad Kashmir government. The legal challenge has brought the circumstances and validity of the appointments under judicial scrutiny.
