Petition seeking GB speaker’s appointment as governor dismissed

Published June 8, 2022
Speaker GB Legislative Assembly Amjad Hussain Zaidi. — Dawn/File
Speaker GB Legislative Assembly Amjad Hussain Zaidi. — Dawn/File

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday disposed of a petition seeking directives to the federal government to appoint Gilgit Baltistan (GB) speaker as acting governor of GB.

The court, however, expects the President on advice of the Prime Minister will make the appointment in due course of time. The post of governor GB fell vacant on April 19, 2022 after Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon resigned from the office.

Since his resignation the region is functioning without governor. The petition was filed by Mohammad Khan.

The petitioner’s counsel Advocate Waheedur Rehman Qureshi argued that “the federal government is refusing to fulfill their obligations by notifying the speaker as the acting governor of Gilgit- Baltistan”.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah noted that “in such an eventuality sub Article (2) of Article 33 is not attracted”. Chief Justice Athar Minallah further observed that a fresh appointment has to be made after the office of governor falls vacant and it is duty of the President of Pakistan on the advice of Prime Minister (PM) to appoint Governor of GB.

The court disposed of the petition saying that the request made in the petition is misconceived and it is expected that Governor GB will be appointed by President on the advice of PM in accordance with the manner prescribed under the “order of 2018”.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.