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