GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court on Wednesday admitted a petition for regular hearing, which seeks police reforms in the region like other parts of Pakistan.

The petitioner claimed that after the region’s accession with Pakistan in 1948, its police department was being run through Police Act, 1861 and police rules, 1934.

The petitioner has requested the court to order reforms in police under the constitution of Pakistan and GB Empowerment and Self Governance Order, 2009.

The petition has been filed by senior lawyer and former GB advocate general Asadullah Khan.

The petitioner said soon after GB people’s liberation from Dogra rule in 1948 and accession with Pakistan, Frontier Crime Regulations (FCR) was promulgated to run its affairs. The FCR remained as law till 1973 when it was abolished and federal rules were introduced, including Police Act 1861, under which the police department was established.

The petitioner said at present according to GB rules of business the police department was an attached department of the home department and powers of postings, transfers, creation of posts and other ancillary matters in police department rested with the home department, whereas under sections 4, 5 and 12 of police act all these powers rested with the GB inspector general of police.

The process of police reforms had been initiated in 2002, but stopped later, the petitioner pointed out.

Respondents in the case are GB government, IGP, secretaries of home, law, services, law division, government of Pakistan, secretary Establishment Division, government of Pakistan, and federal secretary interior.

Acting chief judge Javed Iqbal admitted the case for regular hearing and issued notices to the respondents to submit their replies till Nov 15.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2018