PM Shehbaz approves Ghulam Mustafa Mughal as AJK chief election commissioner for five years

MUZAFFARABAD (Muhammad Aslam Mir) - Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed retired Chief Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal as the Chief Election Commissioner for a five-year term, following the approval of Chairman AJK Council and Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Shehbaz Sharif.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the appointment was made on the orders of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir President. The post had remained vacant since January 13 last year after the completion of the term of former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Rashid Sulehrya.

Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, aged over 70, has previously served in the same position. In February 2016, during his tenure as Chief Justice of the AJK High Court, he was given the additional charge of Chief Election Commissioner for three years. Later, in 2017, he was appointed as a judge of the AJK Supreme Court and retired in December 2020.

The AJK Election Commission consists of the Chief Election Commissioner, a senior member, and one member. Despite the new appointment, the seat of the senior member remains vacant.

Sources say Justice (R) Mughal is regarded as an uncontroversial figure. Holding possible elections in July in the presence of the Awami Action Committee will be a major challenge, while ensuring the election of a new President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir before March 1, as required by the Constitution, will also be among his key responsibilities.

The Chief Election Commissioner in AJK receives privileges equivalent to those of a High Court judge.