GILGIT: Lawyers in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) voiced concern over reports of the induction of a judge from outside the region in the Supreme Appellate Court (SAC). They claim an influential ruling party lawmaker has recommended the appointment.
“We have credible information that an influential ruling party lawmaker from Mansehra is pushing for the appointment of his ‘near and dear one’ for the vacant post,” said G-B High Court Bar Association President
Malik Kifayat.
Kifayat was referring to the SAC seat which fell vacant after Justice Shehbaz Ali died last year.
“We will not let this happen as we have competent people to fill the post,” Kifayat told the media in Gilgit.
Under the law, the regional government forwards a summary containing three names to the federal government, and the prime minister, as the competent authority, can appoint one.
Kifayat said there was a panic among the lawyers about the issue which he said was previously discussed in lawyers’ bodies. He said besides judges, induction of locals in other administrative posts in the judiciary is the right of locals. “But that wasn’t followed in recent appointments.”
According to Gilgit-Baltistan’s Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009, the SAC has three judges including the chief judge, whose status is equivalent to the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
But unlike the Supreme Court, the three judges of the SAC, including the chief judge, are appointed on a contractual basis for a period of three years, while their pay, pension, other perks and privileges are similar to those of the permanent judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and that of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Original news : http://tribune.com.pk/story/1304622/supreme-appellate-court-g-b-lawyers-demand-appointment-local-judge/