MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Supreme Court on Wednesday discharged a show-cause notice issued nearly two years ago to former prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas over his alleged “highly derogatory” remarks against the superior judiciary, after accepting his unconditional apology.

Simultaneously, an appeal by Mr Ilyas challenging his conviction and subsequent disqualification by the AJK High Court on similar charges was also consigned to record. The apex court observed that with only two months remaining in his disqualification period, no substantial issue was left for adjudication.

According to a judgement by the full court bench — comprising Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram, Justice Khawaja Mohammad Nasim, and Justice Raza Ali Khan — the case stemmed from media reports alleging that Mr Ilyas, while serving as AJK’s prime minister, had directly threatened the judiciary and made derogatory remarks during a public speech.

Taking cognisance, the high court initiated contempt proceedings against Mr Ilyas and issued him a notice, while the Supreme Court also took notice and maintained Robkar against him.

During the pendency of these proceedings, the high court convicted Mr Ilyas for contempt in a judgement delivered on April 11, 2023, sentencing him until the rising of the court. Consequently, he was disqualified from holding any public office for two years, leading to his immediate de-seating by the Election Commission.

Following his removal, a new prime minister was elected on April 20, 2023, while by-elections were held in LA-15 Bagh-II, a seat secured by PPP’s Sardar Zia Qamar.

Mr Ilyas had challenged his disqualification in the Supreme Court, also seeking a suspension of the Election Commission’s notification as interim relief. However, the court dismissed his plea on April 13, 2023.

On Wednesday, Mr Ilyas personally appeared before the apex court. At the outset, the bench questioned his counsel, Raja Sajjad Ahmed, about the appeal’s maintainability, noting that his client had already been de-seated, a new representative had taken oath, and only two months remained in the disqualification period.

As his counsel agreed with the observation, the court ruled that further adjudication was unnecessary and consigned the appeal to record.

Regarding the Supreme Court’s contempt proceedings, the bench acknowledged that Mr Ilyas had submitted an “unconditional, unreserved, unqualified, and sincere” apology at the earliest stage without attempting to justify his conduct.

On Wednesday, Mr Ilyas reaffirmed his written apology at the rostrum, reiterating his respect for the court and asserting that he had never intended any disrespect.

“Since contempt proceedings are inherently between the court and the contemnor, and in view of the genuine remorse expressed by Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, we, in an exercise of judicial grace, do not deem it necessary to proceed further,” the bench ruled, subsequently discharging the show-cause notice.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2025