The Supreme Court Wednesday restored the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018, suspending the decision of the Supreme Appellate Court.
During the hearing by a three-member bench, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked the order has been restored as people of GB should have the same rights as those in other parts of the country do. He said the court accepted Centre’s request against the GB court verdict as it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that people of the region get basic facilities.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018, which was promulgated in May this year, replaced the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009. The new order is said to provide political, administrative, financial and judicial powers to people in the region. Moreover, the new order has shifted powers from the Gilgit-Baltistan council – including those related to passing laws on mineral and tourism -to the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly.
However, many people in Gilgit-Baltistan voiced objections to the order, including a member of the Gilgit-Baltistan council, Saeed Afzal. Afzal, who had filed the petition before the law was promulgated, was of the view that the new order not be introduced till their tenure was completed. Nevertheless, the federal government promulgated the Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 during the last days of its tenure.
Published in Daily Times, August 9th 2018.
