Former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, faced a setback on Thursday when the AJK Supreme Court denied his plea for a stay on the AJK High Court’s order that disqualified him from his position. This came after the AJK High Court removed him from office on Tuesday, in a contempt of court case, making him the first premier in the region to be disqualified.
Ilyas had moved the top court against the high court’s decision, and during the hearing, his counsel argued that he had not been given the opportunity to clarify his statements. However, the court rejected Ilyas’ plea to stay the high court’s order, while his appeal against the disqualification decision is still being heard.
The high court had held Ilyas in contempt for remarks he had made in a function in Islamabad, in which he indirectly blamed the judiciary for interfering in the domain of the executive through the grant of stay orders. He had referred to a $15 million Saudi-funded education sector project that had been in limbo due to a stay order issued by the court, and taken exception to the “de-sealing by the courts of tobacco factories involved in tax evasion to the tune of billions of rupees.”
Ilyas’ lawyers argued that the high court’s judgment was “violative of the constitutional provisions and established principles of administration of justice,” and that he was not given a proper opportunity to defend himself. They also contended that the high court was not empowered to disqualify him, as the sentence awarded to him lasted barely five minutes.
During the hearing, the AJK Chief Justice observed that when Ilyas had admitted the commission of contempt, there was little else the court needed to convict him. The court noted all the arguments and said it would consider them during the course of hearing the main appeal, but the request to suspend the operation of the notification issued by the election commission was not granted.
Following the adjournment of the court, a large number of PTI workers gathered in the Chattar neighborhood and started chanting slogans against the decision. When they moved towards the apex court building, police stopped them, and upon resistance, the police resorted to batons, resulting in several PTI workers receiving bruises.
In conclusion, the AJK Supreme Court’s rejection of Ilyas’ plea for a stay on the AJK High Court’s decision to disqualify him marks a significant setback for the PTI. The case highlights the importance of maintaining a separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive, and the consequences of making comments that are contemptuous of the courts. The incident also underscores the need for peaceful protest and respect for the rule of law in any democratic society.
