ISLAMABAD: A large number of people from Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) staged a protest outside the National Press Club on Sunday against the appointment of chief judge in the Supreme Appellate Court of the area.

The protest was organised by Gilgit-Baltistan Youth Alliance, a conglomerate of youth, students and political organisations.

All constitutional bodies of lawyers, including GB Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association, High Court Bar Association and district bar associations observed a strike on May 17 and 18.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly has also unanimously endorsed a resolution against the appointment.

The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands and against the appointment of the judge.

They urged the chief justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the appointment and urged political and youth organisations of GB to unite and struggle for their rights. The protesters demanded the government set up a judicial commission, comprising representatives of lawyers, judges and elected public representatives, to select judges on merit and through a transparent manner in the higher judiciary of GB.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2019