Premier of Pakistan-administered Kashmir disqualified for contempt of court

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – A court on Tuesday convicted the prime minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Tanveer Ilyas, in a contempt of judiciary case, and disqualified him for any public office.

A full bench of the Azad Kashmir High Court headed by Justice Sadaqat Hussain Raja also revoked Ilyas' membership of the regional Legislative Assembly, according to a court record.

A flamboyant Ilyas, who belongs to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of Pakistan's former Premier Imran Khan, had criticized the judiciary at a public meeting last week for issuing stay orders in cases related to government affairs.

Ilyas personally appeared before the court in the capital Muzaffarabad and tendered an "unconditional" apology for his anti-judiciary remarks.

The court, however, turned down his apology, handing down imprisonment till the dismissal of the court proceedings.

The deposed premier later appeared in the Azad Kashmir Supreme Court which refused to overturn his disqualification. Instead, the top court granted a two-week time to Ilyas to submit his response in writing. The top court adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

Ilyas was elected for the coveted post in April 2022, following the resignation of his predecessor Abdul Qayyum Niazi.