GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court on Wednesday accepted a petition seeking implementation of the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s verdict regarding provision of fundamental rights to the GB people.

The court issued notices to the federal and GB governments to submit their response in that regard.

GB People’s Lawyer Forum president Javed Iqbal through his counsel Amjad Hussain and Javed Ahmed submitted a petition in the chief court seeking implementation of SC verdict regarding settlement of constitutional status of the region.

The petitioner said that in the landmark judgment on Jan 17 this year the apex court had directed the federal government to provide administrative, judicial and political rights to the GB people. In its verdict, the Supreme Court had directed the federal government to enforce constitutional rights in GB immediately.

The petitioner pleaded that the SC in its judgment had also directed the federal government to declare GB as the provisional province through an act of parliament.

The petitioner said both the central and GB governments were deliberately violating Supreme Court order by not implementing its decisions.

In its judgment the Supreme Court had directed to induct judges in GB Supreme Appellate Court through judicial commission, but the appointment of judges was still being done through the pervious practice, which was violation of law and order of the apex court, the petition said.

The petitioner requested GB chief court to suspend GB Order 2018.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2019