MUZAFFARABAD: Retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal was sworn in as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday, filling a constitutional office that remained vacant for more than a year.

The oath was administered by AJK Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram at a ceremony held in the Supreme Court building, attended by members of the legal fraternity and senior civil servants.

The office fell vacant following the expiry of the term of retired Justice Abdul Rashid Sulehria on January 13 last year.

Justice Mughal’s appointment was notified by the AJK government on Wednesday after the President’s office received advice in his favour from the chairman of the AJK Council — the prime minister of Pakistan.

Justice Mughal, who is over 70, previously served as CEC from February 2016 to February 2019 while he was a serving judge — first of the AJK High Court and later of the Supreme Court.

The long-delayed appointment is expected to allay concerns about the timely conduct of AJK’s next general elections, scheduled for July this year.

At the swearing-in ceremony, Justice Mughal declined to take up questions from journalists, saying he would invite media after receiving detailed briefings from election commission officials.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2026