MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court on Friday served notices on AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and Chief Secretary Abid Ali Khan, asking them to explain before April 28 as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them allegedly for overlooking a court decision on local bodies (LB) elections.

The notices were served by the single member bench, comprising Justice M. Tabassum Aftab Alvi, on an application filed by Raja Sajjad Ahmed Khan, a former vice chairman of the AJK Bar Council.

Mr Khan not only sought initiation of the contempt of court proceedings against the premier and the chief secretary but also implementation of the March 6 judgment of Justice Alvi.

On March 6, Justice Alvi had accepted a writ petition by Mr Khan and directed the government to appoint the election commissioner for local bodies within one month for organisation, conduct and supervision of LB polls.

“The respondents jointly and individually are also directed to hold LB elections throughout the territorial limits of Azad Jammu and Kashmir within five months from the receipt of the instant judgment,” he had ordered.

Mr Khan pointed that despite the lapse of more than a month the government had neither gone into the appeal against the direction nor appointed the election commissioner for local bodies.

Despite being fully aware of the verdict, the respondents – prime minister and chief secretary - had not taken any step for its implementation, which was an ample proof of the fact that they deliberately disobeyed, ridiculed, frustrated and violated the direction, thus lowering down the authority of the honourable court, he alleged.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2015

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