Upon discovering this irregularity, the Election Commission was notified through a written request.
Muzafarabad: The District and Sessions Court in Muzaffarabad has issued an order to halt the upcoming elections for the Central House of Journalism scheduled for Sunday, January 7. The decision comes in response to a plea filed by advocate Hammad Mushtaq Janjua on behalf of senior press club members Farooq Mughal, Zulkaful Sarfaraz, and Raja Adeel.
The petitioners contended that despite receiving notices, the three senior members were unjustly removed from the press club’s membership just as the annual House of Journalism elections were approaching. While their names were initially included in the election list, they mysteriously disappeared from the published list after the release of the election schedule.
Upon discovering this irregularity, the Election Commission was notified through a written request. The Election Commission, in turn, directed the Chairman of the Press Foundation to intervene. The Chairman promptly formed a three-member committee, instructing them to submit a report within three days. The committee’s decision, after examining the records, supported the petitioners’ claim, urging the Election Commissioner to reinstate voting rights for the three members and re-advertise the voter list by January 3 at 4 pm.
Despite the committee’s findings, the Election Commissioner rejected the report, leading the case to be referred to the civil judge and eventually the district court. Following an initial hearing, the court has set January 8 as the date for a full hearing, ordering an immediate halt to the election process.
More From Daily The Destination: PM AJK extends heartfelt condolences, pays tribute to late Sardar Asghar Afandi
In response to the court’s directive, a representative meeting of the journalist panel was convened at the press club, during which it was decided that the journalist panel would abstain from participating in the election process in compliance with the court’s orders. Representatives from various media outlets and stakeholders participated in the meeting, reflecting a united stance in light of the ongoing legal dispute.
