Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court Suspends GB Order 2018

The petition was filed in Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan to declare the GB Order 2018 illegal. A demand of stay order was also made. According to sources, Saeed Afzal — a member of GB Council — had filed the petition in April under Article 61 of the GB Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009.

Gilgit-Baltistan Council is a constitutional body established in 2010 under Article 33 of Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self Governance) Order, 2009. The Council had executive and legislative powers before being suspended by the new GB Order 2018.

Chief Judge Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court Rana Muhammad Shamim

Saeed Afzal, the petitioner, is one of the members of GB Council that’s powers have been restricted in the GB Order 2018. The elected members of GB Council were to hold office until elections in 2020.

The Federal Government has promulgated GB Order 2018 despite a stay order from Rana Muhammad Shamim, the Chief Judge of Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court which was observed as a “violation of law” by the court.

In the latest hearing of the petition, a two-member bench of the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court has issued a suspension of GB Order 2018. The bench comprised of Chief Judge GB Supreme Appellate Court Rana Muhammad Shamim and Justice Javed Ahmed.

The next hearing of the GB Order 2018 case is scheduled for July 26, 2018.