AJK judge jailed for releasing narcotics dealer despite SC ruling

MUZAFFARABAD: The AJK police Wednesday arrested Sessions Judge Raja Imtiaz Ahmad for unlawfully ordering the release of a narcotics dealer in defiance of a Supreme Court directive.

Chief Justice AJK Supreme Court Raja Saeed Akram Khan sentenced Judge Imtiaz to three days in jail for contempt of court.

Judge Imtiaz, serving at the Anti-Narcotics Court, Haveli, had released Raja Dilawar Khan — arrested for possessing a large quantity of heroin — on February 16, 2023.

The release came despite a clear Supreme Court ruling, rejecting the bail and instructing a trial decision within six months.

Dilawar, originally denied bail by the lower court, high court, and Supreme Court, fled abroad shortly after his release. At the time, his appeal was still pending, and the Supreme Court had explicitly directed that any new bail plea be presented to the top court only.