MUZAFFARABAD: The Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has issued comprehensive recommendations and directives to the government to improve the performance, transparency, and effectiveness of Ehtesab Bureau, the region`s top accountability body.

It has made it clear to the government that no appointment against the [currently vacant] office of Ehtesab Bureau`s chairman should be made until the relevant laws were amended in line with its recommendations and directives.

The guidelines were presented in the case titled Chaudhry Tariq Farooq vs AJK government, which revolved around the appointment of the then AJK Ehtesab Bureau chairman, Mushtaq Ahmed Janjua.

Mr Farooq, the regional PML-N secretary general, had raised concerns about Mr Janjua`s integrity and sought the annulment of his appointment by Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.

On December 2, a daybefore the apex court was scheduled to hear the case, Mr Janjua resigned from the office, citing health issues and domestic commitments.

Resultantly, the petition was declared infructuousto the extent of Mr Janjua`s appointment and case was disposed of.

However, the government refrained from making any new appointment to the position ofbureau`s chairmanuntil the issuance of a detailed judgment outlining the criteria and procedures for the purpose.

In its judgment, shared by a senior court official, the apex court expressed concerns about the lack of transparency, merit, and mutual consultation in the current procedure for appointing the chairman.

It stressed that appointments to high ranking positions should not rely solely on technical qualifications but should also prioritise attributes such as integrity, character, and professional competence.

The apex court directed the government to amend the relevant laws governing the chairman`s appointment to ensure an impar-tial and politically neutral selection process.

It recommended that the chairman`s appointment should be made through consultation between the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.

It further suggested that the eligibility criteria for the position should be broad, including integrity, professional competence, and a sound understanding of the law.

To safeguard the accountability body`s independence, the court advised that the chairman`s tenure be fixed and protected from arbitrary removal, with a transparent inquiry process established for any dismissal.

Additionally, the court further instructed the government to reassess the number of law officers in the bureau to ensure the efficient use of resources and minimize the burden on the public treasury.

The court expressed hope that the government would take these recommendations seriously to transform the top accountability body into an independent, effective, and transparent institution capable of achieving its primary objectives.