MUZAFFARABAD: The senior most judge of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Supreme Court, Justice Saeed Akram Khan took oath as the acting Chief Justice (CJ) of the apex court on Wednesday.

The oath was administered to him by AJK President Sardar Masood Khan at the President House. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, law minister Sardar Farooq Ahmed Tahir, members of the superior judiciary and government officials.

On Tuesday, CJ Chaudhry Mohammad Ibrahim Zia quit the office on attaining the age of superannuation, due to which the senior most judge was appointed as acting CJ.

According to the AJK Constitution, when the office of CJ in the supreme or high court falls vacant for any reason, the president can appoint the senior most judge to act as CJ till a permanent appointment, which is conditional to the advice of the AJK council, headed by the prime minister of Pakistan.

At the moment, the AJK High Court is also being run by an acting CJ.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2020