MUZAFFARABAD, July 31: Appointment of Chaudhry Amir Afzal as Commissioner for Mangla Dam Affairs and Chairman of Mirpur Development Authority on contract basis was challenged in the AJK High Court here on Friday, through a quo warranto writ.

The petitioner, Chaudhry Farman Ali, argued through his counsel Syed Mujahid Hussain Naqvi that Mr Afzal was usurping the two offices after having been retired in Feb 2000 from the post of chief engineer PWD.

The reemployment was illegal and ab initio void act of the AJK government, as under provisions of AJK Civil Servants Act 1976 and AJK Civil Servants (Appointment and Conditions of Services) Rules 1977 a former official who had attained the age of 63 could not be re-employed or appointed on any public office.