Lawyers at Supreme Appellate Court Bar Association and High Court Bar Association of Gilgit-Baltistan have demanded that in order to fill the vacant seat of judge at Supreme Appellate Court, a competent lawyer from the bar be elevated and warned that if government fails to do so they will take the case to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Talking to media, Supreme Appellate Court President Ahsaan Ali advocate, Senior Vice president Javed Iqbal and High Court Bar President Asadullah said that attempts were underway to elevate a lawyer from Mansehra who has backing of Captain Safdar and Maryam Nawaz and resolved that no such attempts would be allowed to succeed.
The legal fraternity also aired its apprehension about the inclusion of Gilgit-Baltistan chief judge Mr Justice Shahab Khan’s name in the summary which was against the Good Governance Ordinance. The representatives said that that hundreds of cases were pending in chief court that were decided but were awaiting implementation. The lawyers said that his elevation would bring the chief court to a standstill.
According to Article 175A of The Constitution of Pakistan, the appointment of judges in higher judiciary was done on merit and Supreme Judicial Council comprising chief justice, senior justices and member of Pakistan Bar Council finalized the nomination of Judges. However, in Gilgit-Baltistan, the government was all powerful to elevate and appoint judges in Supreme Appellate Court, Gilgit-Baltistan.
The lawyers of Gilgit-Baltistan have warned that failure on government’s part would lead to province wide protests and the whole responsibility would be on government’s shoulder.
