GILGIT, Aug 4: A bench of the Northern Areas Chief Court (NACC) has issued notices to the federation of Pakistan, the Northern Areas chief executive, chief secretary and Northern Areas Legislative Council (NALC) for August 31 on a petition filed by a local lawyer to determine the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The bench comprises Mr Muzzafar Ali and Mr Sahib Khan.

The petition was filed by Labour Party Chairman Ehsan Ali advocate in the NACC in June 2001 questioning legality of the existing institutions in the region after the Supreme Court’s May 28, 1999 verdict on the status of the Northern Areas.

The petitioner has sought up gradation of the status of the NALC to that of an assembly, of the Northern Areas Chief Court to that of a high court.