MUZAFFARABAD: Justice Khalid Yousaf Chaudhary was sworn in as a permanent judge of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Supreme Court on Monday, three days after his appointment was approved by the AJK President on the advice of the chairman of the AJK Council, who is the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Supreme Court building in Muzaffarabad and was administered by Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram. A large number of dignitaries attended the event, including serving and former judges of AJK’s superior judiciary, senior civil servants, and representatives of lawyers’ bodies.
Among those present were Justice Raza Ali Khan, the senior puisne judge of the AJK Supreme Court, and Justice Sardar Liaqat Hussain and Justice Chaudhry Khalid Rasheed, who currently serve as the Chief Justice and a judge of the AJK High Court, respectively.
Justice Khalid Yousaf Chaudhary was born in June 1969 in Mirpur. He obtained his law degree from the University of the Punjab, Lahore, in 1995, and later earned a certificate in Quranic studies from the International Islamic University, Islamabad, in 1996.
He began his professional career as a practising lawyer and remained actively involved in bar politics and legal advocacy. Over the years, he held several key positions in lawyers’ organisations, including roles within the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bar Council, where he gained prominence for his legal expertise and engagement with constitutional and administrative matters.
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In May 2018, Justice Yousaf was appointed as a judge of the AJK High Court along with three other members drawn from the bar and one from the bench. However, in July 2020, the Supreme Court declared those appointments ultra vires the Constitution and without lawful authority, citing technical grounds related to the appointment process.
The oath was administered by Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram at a ceremony held in the apex court building.https://t.co/gurcdLnEvV
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 30, 2025
Following this development, Justice Yousaf continued to serve in public roles and, in March 2022, was appointed as Custodian Evacuee Property by the government. He held this position until his recent elevation to the AJK Supreme Court.
The appointment adds to the strength of the apex court at a time when the judiciary in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is dealing with a growing volume of constitutional, administrative and public interest cases. Observers say the inclusion of Justice Yousaf, with his background in legal practice and public administration, is expected to contribute to the court’s functioning and deliberations.
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