MUZAFFARABAD, March 11: Officials of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council said on Monday that they have sent the AJK president their nominations for the four vacant seats in the AJK High Court, which has a total of five judges.

Last September, the government increased the number of judges by two, "in view of the pendency of cases and difficulties to the general public due to the shortage of judges".

The new appointees include Abdur Rashid Suleria, a judge from the Shariat court; Azhar Salim Babar, a judge from the district and sessions court; and from the bar, Sardar Abdul Hameed, of Palandari, and Chaudhry Jehandad of Mirpur.

According to the AJK's Interim Constitution Act of 1974, appointing a high court judge is the responsibility of the president, who asks advice from the Council and the Chief Justices of the AJK Supreme Court and High Court.

An official told Dawn that once the recommended appointments are received from the President's office, the AJK Law Department will issue the notifications.

The elevation of Justice Suleria to the Supreme Court leaves one seat vacant at the Shariat Court, where the government has added one more position to bring the court's strength to four justices.

The AJK Shariat Court was established by special legislation in the early 1990s, and is authorised to hear, in appeals, matters pertaining to family disputes, murders, and other Islamic penal offenses.

Its judges, appointed by the AJK President on the advice of his or her Prime Minister, enjoy the same privileges as High Court judges.