Altaf Hamid Rao.
MIRPUR (AJK), (Parliament Times) : Top retired judges of the superior judiciary of Azad Jammu Kashmir, while commenting on some rumors about postponement of the forthcoming general elections – 2021 in Azad Jammu Kashmir due to be held in mid of this year, categorically said that there was no any legal and constitutional provision to postpone the coming general elections to Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
When contacted by this Correspondent, retired Chief Justice of Azad Jammu & Kashmir Justice Syed Manzoor ul Hassan Gillani said that the elections could be postponed only in case of extreme emergent situation including in case of war or outburst of any natural catastrophe including earthquake or any identical worst situation.
“Only AJK Chief Election Commissioner can order for postponement of the elections only in case of war, earthquake or any other identical natural catastrophe”, the seasoned jurist and former CJ of AJK said while responding to a question.
Commenting, the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Azad Jammu Kashmir Justice (Retd) Muhammad Azam Khan categorically said while talking to this Correspondent here on Thursday that since law and interim constitution of Azad Jammu Kashmir did not permit the postponement of the AJK general elections in any way, the postponement of the AJK elections stands no validity legally and constitutionally.
The elections are due to be held in mid of this year since the stipulated five-year constitutional term of the incumbent Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative is ending in July this year.
“Postponement of AJK General elections stands no validity, legally and constitutionally– since the law and the interim constitution of Azad Jammu Kashmir did not allow to do so”, said Justice (Retd) Hussain Mazhar Kaleem Of Azad Jammu Kashmir Shariat Court.
Talking to this Correspondent here Thursday, Justice (Retd) Kaleem categorically declared that there is no any legal and constitutional provision to postpone the forthcoming general elections to the State Legislative Assembly of Azad Jammu Kashmir.
