Altaf Hamid Rao,
MIRPUR (AJK): The Supreme Court of Azad Jammu Kashmir here on Thursday framed charge on Ch. Muhammad Saeed, sitting AJK minister, in a contempt of Court case.
The court has fixed October 22, 2018 for producing witnesses by the petitioner in support of his petition and the next day of October 23, 2018 by the respondent in his defense in the writ petition titled Haji Javed akram s/o Ch. Muhammad Akram, resident of village Sangote, Mirpur V/S Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed s/o Chaudhry Muhammad Saleem, resident of Sector F/1, Mirpur (AJK).
Our Correspondent Altaf Hamid Rao reports from The Supreme Court of AJK from Mirpur Thursday that the two-member bench of the apex court of Azad Jammu Kashmir comprising Chief Justice Ch. Muhammad Ibrahim Zia and Justice Raja Saeed Akram , while framing charge in the contempt of court proceeding on Ch. Muhammad Saeed, sitting Minister of AJK for Sports, Youth, Culture, MDA and MDHA, came to the conclusion here on Thursday, after hearing preliminary arguments in the case that prima facie the act of the respondent attracted contempt of court and thus is accountable. Hence the petition was accepted for regular hearing framing the charge on the respondent Ch. Muhammad Saeed who pleaded not guilty and at the same time tendered unconditional apology
Renowned seasoned jurist Khalid Rashid Ch. Advocate appeared on behalf of the petitioner Haji Javed Akram. Whereas veteran seasoned legal expert Justice (Retd) Abdul Majeed Mallick Advocate appeared as Counsel of the respondent Ch. Muhammad Saeed in the case.
In its brief order issued on Thursday, the learned apex court said :-
“In the light of the incidents and record the charge is farmed on the respondent as according to the record and report provided by the concerned authorities, you have brought one kanal, 8 marla and 3 sarsai piece of state-owned land from Khasra No. 434 under occupation through making unlawful encroachment. This act has badly hurt and damaged the rule of law and the reputation of the apex court in the society side by side violation of the apex court’s verdict titled Muhammad Azeem Dutt Advocate v/s Raja Khadim Hussain etc. (SCR 577 – 2017). In the prima facie, this act of you is accountable under Article 45 and section 3 of the contempt of court Act 1993 and the prevailing laws especially Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly Election Ordinance 1970”.
The learned Supreme Court of Azad Jammu Kashmir further said in its order “response / contentions and witness, the respondent intend to produce, should be got submit with Additional Registrar of the court with the list and detail by tomorrow. Advocate General is also directed to assist that court by filing the list of witnesses and the witness and the Counsel of the petitioner by tomorrow (October 19), Petitioner and the prosecution produce the witness on October 22, 2018. Whereas the respondent produce all defensive witness on October 23, 2018 before the court”, the learned court ordered.