The Lahore High Court (LHC) has made a significant decision regarding the appointment of MM Akram as the Judicial Member of the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR). A petition challenging his appointment was recently dismissed by the LHC. MM Akram had been appointed as a Judicial Member in 2019, and his appointment was challenged in the Rawalpindi Bench of the LHC.
The key issue raised in the petition was an FIR lodged against MM Akram in 2005 related to a family dispute. However, before charges could be framed, he was acquitted based on a compromise. The petitioner questioned the honorability of this acquittal and sought to discredit MM Akram on these grounds. The LHC firmly rejected the petition, emphasizing that an acquittal, even through compromise, is honorable and does not tarnish one’s character. They cited the universal principle of the rule of law, which presumes innocence until guilt is proven.
The court also highlighted MM Akram’s impressive 28-year career, demonstrating his fitness for the role of Judicial Member in ATIR. The mere registration of a criminal case in a family dispute before his appointment did not constitute evidence of bad character. This decision upholds MM Akram’s appointment and affirms the principle of justice in the legal system. It is a clear victory for MM Akram and reinforces the idea that individuals are innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the law.