SC lifts stay on judicial appointments in Gilgit-Baltistan

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday vacated the stay order on judicial appointments in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

A five-member constitutional bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, heard the matter of the appointment of judges in Gilgit-Baltistan judiciary.

The Attorney General informed the court that the government would make the appointments in accordance with the 2018 order, and that the matter had been discussed with the Advocate General of Gilgit-Baltistan.

At this, Justice Jamal Mandokhail asked the Attorney General that there should be no injustice, adding that if there was injustice, problems will arise. Similarly, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar remarked that “we should resolve the case of judicial appointments now”.

The Gilgit-Baltistan government withdrew its petition related to the procedure of judges’ appointment. Later, an agreement was reached between the Attorney General of Pakistan and Advocate General of Gilgit-Baltistan on the procedure for appointments, after which the Supreme Court lifted the stay order on judicial appointments in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court adjourned the remaining petitions related to appointments in Gilgit-Baltistan for three weeks.