MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday sent his advice for induction of two senior lawyers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to the bench of the region’s Supreme Court in a move to accomplish its sanctioned strength, officials confirmed.

According to the AJK Constitution, the AJK apex court comprises a CJ and two judges.

In a related development, the prime minister also sent his advice for confirmation of Justice Sadaqat Hussain Raja as permanent chief justice (CJ) of the AJK High Court. Justice Sadaqat, who is currently the only judge in the High Court, has been serving as acting CJ since May 11, a week after the death of his predecessor Raja Shiraz Kiani of brain paralysis.

The names of Khawaja Mohammad Nasim and Raja Raza Ali Khan were sent to PM Khan by AJK President Sardar Masood Khan after consultations with AJK’s chief justice (CJ) Raja Saeed Akram.

Mr Nasim, who was born in 1960 in Haveli district, is a law graduate from the University of Punjab. He had also remained office bearer of lawyers’ bodies, as well as a member of the AJK Bar Council. In 2017, the present AJK government appointed him as chairman AJK Services Tribunal.

On the other hand, Mr Khan, who was born in 1969 in Muzaffarabad district, is a law graduate from the University of Peshawar. He had also held various offices in the lawyers’ bodies, including the Bar Council. Shortly after its inception in 2016, the present government had appointed him as advocate general.

In mid 2018, he was elevated to the bench of the AJK High Court along with four others. However, the appointments of all five were nullified by the apex court due to some technical reasons in July 2020.

The AJK Constitution also allows direct induction of judges in the region’s supreme court, apart from elevation from the high court.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2021