The governor of Gilgit Baltistan is the appointed head of state of the provincial government in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The governor is designated by the prime minister of Pakistan and is normally regarded a ceremonial post. However, throughout the history of Pakistan, the powers of the provincial governors were vastly increased, every time the provincial assemblies were dissolved and the administrative role came under direct control of the governors.
The current governor is Syed Mehdi Shah, who assumed office on 15 August 2022.[1]
Powers of Governor
Executive Powers related to appointments, removal, issuing orders and oath taking.
Legastlative Powers related to Gilgit Baltistan Legastlative Assembly.
Judicial Powers related to Supreme Appellate Court and Chief Court of Gilgit Baltistan
Emergency Powers related to emergency in Gilgit Baltistan
Executive Powers
He is ceremonial and appointed head of state. All executive powers are exercised by Government consisting of Chief Minister and Ministers on his behalf. He is bound to act on advice of Chief Minister or Cabinet.
Therere shall be a Cabinet of Ministers, with the Chief Minister at its head, to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions.
The Chief Minister shall keep the Governor informed on matters relating to administration and on all legislative proposals the Government intends to bring before the Assembly.
He is Vice Chairman of Gilgit Baltistan Council.
He shall appoint Ministers on advice of Chief Minister.
He shall appoint care-taker cabinet on advice of care-taker Chief Minister.
He may ask the Chief Minister to obtain vote of confidence from Assembly, if chief minister fails to obtain confidence vote he may remove him and appoint chief minister who get majiorty vote from members of Assembly.
He shall appoint Advocate General on advice of Chief Minister.
He shall appoint Auditor General on advice of Prime Minister.
He shall give advice to Prime Minister for appointment of Chief Election Commissioner of Gilgit Baltistan.
He shall give advice to Prime Minister for appointment of Chairman of Giglit Baltistan Public Service Commission.
He may have power to make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Order.
He shall announce date of general election of Legastlative Assembly no later than ninety days after dissolution of Assembly.
He shall take oath from Chief Minister, Cabinet and also from care-taker Chief Minister and Care-taker cabinet.
Legastlative Powers
Governor shall assent the bills passed by Legastlative Assembly. Bills also become acts when it is deemed to be assented after passage of certain time.
He shall prorogue and summon the sessions of legastlative Assembly.
He shall dissolve the assembly on advice of Chief Minister.
The Governor may also dissolve the Assembly in his discretion, but subject to the previous approval of the President, where a vote of no-confidence having been passed against the Chief Minister, no other member of the Assembly commands the confidence of the majority of the members of the Assembly in accordance with the provisions of this Order, as ascertained in a session of the Assembly summoned for the puropose.
All the proceedings of the Assembly shall be conducted in accordance with rules of procedure made by the Assembly and approved by the Governor.
The Speaker may resign from his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Governor.
He shall promulgate ordinances when he is satisfied that Assembly is not in session on advice of Chief Minister or cabinet.
The Annual Budget as passed by the Assembly shall be placed before the Governor who shall authenticate it by his signature.
Judicial Powers
The Chief Judge of Supreme Appellate Court shall be appointed by the Prime Minister on the advice of the Governor and other Judges shall be appointed by the Chairman on the advice of Governor after seeking views of the Chief Judge.
Chief Judge of Chief Court is appointed by Prime Minister on advice of Governor and other Judges shall be appointed by Chairman on advice of Governor after seeking views of the Chief Judge.
He also appoints acting Chief Judge of Supreme Appellate Court and acting Chief Judge of Chief Court.
On advice of Prime Minister, He may remove any judge on recommendations of Supreme Judicial Council.
If at any time, the Governor desires to obtain the opinion of the Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court on any question of law which he considers of public importance, he may refer the question to the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan for consideration.
He also takes oath from Chief Judge of Supreme Appellate Court and Chief Judge of Chief Court of Gilgit Baltistan.
Emergency Powers
Prime Minister of Pakistan can issue proclamation of emergency on receiving reports from Governor when there is threat of war, external aggression and government cannot be carried accordence with provisions of Gilgit Baltistan Order.
With approval of Prime Minister, Governor can directly exercise executive authority of Government during emergency.
Proclamation shall be laid before the Assembly which shall be summoned by the Prime Minister on the advice of the Governor to meet within thirty days of the Proclamation being issued.
Prime Minister may also impose financial emergency due to economic life, financial stability or credit of Gilgit-Baltistan, or any part thereof, is threatened, he may, after consultation with the Governor.
List of governors
Following is the list of governors after Gilgit-Baltistan was given the status of a province on 29 August 2009, when the federal cabinet had approved the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-governance) Order 2009.[2]
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The Supreme Appellate Court Gilgit-Baltistan is the highest court of appeal in the region of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. It consists of a chief justice and two other judges. The court was established in 2009 under Gilgit-Baltistan 2009 and has the similar jurisdiction equal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Permanent Seat of the Court is at Gilgit, but the court also sits from time to time at Skardu Branch Registry.
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