AJK High Court Petitioned Over Delay in Presidential Election

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court has received a constitutional petition urging the timely conduct of the presidential election, according to reports from Muzaffarabad. The petition was filed on Saturday by Raja Zulqurnain Abid and Syed Fakher Kazmi, both advocates of the High Court and members of the Central Bar Association Muzaffarabad. Their counsel, Syed Zulqarnain Raza Naqvi, submitted the petition under Article 44 of the AJK’s Interim Constitution, 1974.

The petition names the AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), the Election Commission, and the secretaries of the Law and Services and General Administration departments as respondents. The petitioners are seeking directions from the court to ensure that the election to the office of president is held within the timeframe outlined in the Constitution.

The office of the AJK president became vacant on January 31, 2026, following the passing of Barrister Sultan Mehmood. According to Article 9 of the Interim Constitution, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly is required to perform the functions of the president and is responsible for ensuring that an election to the office is conducted within the stipulated period.

The petition highlights concerns regarding the delay in holding the presidential election and requests the court to instruct the relevant authorities to fulfill their constitutional obligations. The matter is now before the AJK High Court, with the petitioners emphasizing adherence to constitutional procedures and timelines.