The Supreme Court on Monday was apprised that the federal cabinet has raised reservations over a draft that has been finalized for the provision of constitutional rights to the people of Gilgilt Baltistan, a private TV channel reported.
A seven-member larger bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, took up the case related to provision of fundamental rights to the people ofGilgilt Baltistan.”The federal cabinet has raised objections over the GB’s draft by underlining the need of the constitutional amendment into the matter,” the attorney general informed the court. The federal government wanted an interim order to safeguard the fundamental rights of the GB people, he said.Number of judges in Gilgit Baltistan can also be increased by the government, he continued.
To this, the CJP asked about the procedure of the appointment of the judges. “The appointment should be ensured through the judicial commission,” he remarked.”Make sure provision of all fundamental rights to the people of Gilgit Baltistan, and avoid creating legal hurdles in this regard,” the chief justice said.
During the hearing, the Gilgit Baltistan law minister said,”We want implementation of the recommendations made by Sartaj Aziz-led committee.”
Later, the court reserved its verdict on the petitions challenging the Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018, Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order, 2009, as well as the right of the citizens of the area to be governed through their chosen representatives.
Published in Daily Times, January 8th 2019
