Speaking to reporters, Mr Farooq pointed out that the post had been lying vacant for more than seven months, leaving the Election Commission “functionally paralysed” and local bodies “defunct.”
He noted that under Article 50 of the AJK Interim Constitution, the appointment of a neutral and empowered CEC was obligatory for holding free, fair and timely polls.
“This is not merely an administrative delay — it is a dangerous political undercurrent,” he said.
Under the AJK’s Interim Constitution, the CEC is appointed by the AJK president on the advice of the chairman of the AJK Council — i.e., the Prime Minister of Pakistan — based on nominees proposed by the AJK prime minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
The commission also includes a senior member and a member, both appointed solely on the advice of the AJK prime minister.
The commission has been without a chairman since January 14, a day after the completion of the five-year term of retired Justice Abdul Rashid Sulehria as CEC.
While the senior member position also remains vacant, retired secretary Syed Nazeerul Hassan Gillani was appointed as a member by Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq on January 11.
Political circles allege that Mr Haq is dragging the matter for “reasons best known to him,” a stance that has infuriated his opponents, who suspect the “deliberate” delay is aimed at influencing future electoral outcomes.
On March 27, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had constituted a three-member committee headed by the federal law minister and comprising the federal Kashmir affairs secretary and AJK’s chief secretary to “review the legal scheme and the procedure of appointment of CEC under the provisions of AJK Interim Constitution and any other ancillary aspects of the issue” and submit recommendations within seven days.
The move drew criticism from the AJK chapters of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who argued that the AJK Constitution assigns no role to the federal law minister in the appointment process.
The committee reportedly held one meeting, in which the AJK chief secretary was directed to speak to the AJK premier about the matter.
However, since then, neither the committee nor the office of the AJK Council chairman (the prime minister of Pakistan) has made any progress, despite PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir and parliamentary leader Raja Farooq Haider publicly denouncing the delay as a “blatant constitutional violation” by the AJK premier.
“The silence of the AJK Council, chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, is deeply worrying. The Council bears constitutional responsibility for this appointment, and further delay is unjustifiable,” said Mr Farooq, the PML-N regional secretary general.
He warned that continued inaction risked eroding AJK’s constitutional framework and could be perceived as an attempt to undermine its autonomous status. “Political parties, civil society and the lawyers’ fraternity have already voiced strong concerns about what appears to be a deliberate constitutional deadlock,” he added.
Mr Farooq further said the situation was damaging Pakistan’s credibility on the Kashmir issue internationally. “How can we advocate for democratic rights in Indian-occupied Kashmir while failing to uphold them in the territory under our own administration?” he asked.
He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his capacity as AJK Council chairman, to immediately appoint a competent and impartial CEC, resolving any procedural obstacles stemming from the 13th Constitutional Amendment through transparent dialogue.
“This is not just about filling a vacant office — it’s about safeguarding democracy and the people’s right to representation,” he said.
Tariq Naqash
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