SC refers GBHC judges’ appointment case to judges committee

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Wednesday referred a case to the Judges Committee concerning the appointment of judges to the Gilgit-Baltistan High Court for formation of a larger bench.

A three-member bench of the apex court — headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa — heard the matter.

The court was informed that a seven-member larger bench of the Supreme Court had given a decision in 2019 on the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The court then referred the matter to the Judges Committee for constituting a larger bench to hear the matter after issuing notices to the Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Council and the Supreme Appellate Court Bar Association for assistance.

Additional attorney general told the court that the federal government wanted to bring Gilgit-Baltistan into the constitutional stream by giving it the provincial status, but international conventions were an obstacle in this regard.

He submitted that the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan was also related to the referendum on which the chief justice remarked, “India had usurped Kashmir, let’s hold a referendum in the part of Kashmir and GB that we have.”

The additional attorney general, however, submitted that the referendum could be conducted only by the United Nations.

He further submitted that it would be appropriate to wait for the formation of a new government as the prime minister was the chairman of the GB Council.

Meanwhile, the court directed the parties to submit their written submissions and adjourned the matter for date-in-office (indefinite period).