Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court | |
---|---|
Established | 2009 | }
Jurisdiction | Gilgit-Baltistan |
Location | Gilgit |
Authorized by | Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self Governance Order) 2009 |
Appeals to | Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court |
Appeals from | District Courts of Gilgit-Baltistan |
Judge term length | Until 62 years of age |
Website | www |
Chief Justice | |
Currently | Mr. Justice Ali Baig [1] |
Since | 30-11-2017 |
The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court is the court of appeals in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The decisions of the court are appealed to Supreme Appellate Court Gilgit-Baltistan. The court acts under 2009 Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order and has the equal status as of other high courts of Pakistan. [2] [3] The Permanent Seat of the Court is at Gilgit, but the Court also sits from time to time at Skardu Branch Registry.
Prior to 1972, Gilgit Baltistan was then known as Northern Areas was ruled under the infamous FCR, which was abolished in 1972. Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan introduced some judicial and administrative reforms and courts were established. These were given more power over time by Al-Jehad Trust Versus the Federation of Pakistan as per orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan. In 2009, under Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self Governance Order) 2009 the court in its current form was established. [2] [4]
The Court is composed of one Chief Judge and four other judges appointed by Gilgit-Baltistan Council.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan is the apex court in the judicial hierarchy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, and highcourt of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of a supreme court are binding on all other courts in a nation and are not subject to further review by any other court. Supreme courts typically function primarily as appellate courts, hearing appeals from decisions of lower trial courts, or from intermediate-level appellate courts. A supreme court can also, in certain circumstances, act as a court of original jurisdiction.
The judiciary of Pakistan is the national system of courts that maintains the law and order in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan uses a common law system, which was introduced during the colonial era, influenced by local medieval judicial systems based on religious and cultural practices. The Constitution of Pakistan lays down the fundamentals and working of the Pakistani judiciary.
The Balawaristan National Front is a defunct political party which sought Independence for Gilgit-Baltistan, claimed as Balawaristan, as well as claims in certain regions of the Indian-Administered Kashmir, Kargil and Ladakh, as part of its historical territory.
Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi is former justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and a former justice of Lahore High Court.
The four provincial governments of Pakistan administer the four provinces of Pakistan. There is also a federal capital territory and two territories which have similar governments but with some differences. The head of each province is a non-executive Governor appointed by the President. The Governors play a similar role, at the provincial level, as the President does at the federal level. Each province has a directly elected unicameral legislature, with members elected for five-year terms. Each provincial assembly elects a Chief Minister, who then selects a cabinet of ministers from amongst the members of the Provincial Assembly. Each province also has a High Court, which forms part of the superior judiciary.
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 Gilgit-Baltistan Council has been established as per Article 33 of Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2009. Its Chairman is the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan is the Vice-Chairman over the six members-elected. It can legislate on 53 subjects as provided in Schedule III of the Order.
The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan is the government of the administrative territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Its powers and structure are set out in the 2009 Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, in which 14 districts come under its authority and jurisdiction. The government includes the cabinet, selected from members the Gilgit–Baltistan Assembly, and the non-political civil staff within each department. The province is governed by a unicameral legislature with the head of government known as the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, invariably the leader of a political party represented in the Assembly, selects members of the Cabinet. The Chief Minister and Cabinet are thus responsible the functioning of government and are entitled to remain in office so long as it maintains the confidence of the elected Assembly. The head of state of the province is known as the Governor. The terms Government of Gilgit–Baltistan or Gilgit–Baltistan Government are often used in official documents. The seat of government is in Gilgit, thus serving as the capital of the territory.
Umar Ata Bandial is a Pakistani jurist who served as the 28th Chief Justice of Pakistan from February 2022 to September 2023. He was appointed as the Chief Justice after the approval by President Arif Alvi on 13 January 2022, after which he assumed his office on 2 February 2022 and retired on 16 September 2023.
Sayyed Muhammad Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi is a removed Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, he assumed office on 16 March 2020 and was removed as a Judge on 10 January 2024. Naqvi previously served as a Judge of the Lahore High Court before his out of turn elevation to the Supreme Court.
The 2015 Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections were held on 8 June 2015. Elections were held in 24 constituencies, each electing one member to the 2nd Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly. 269 candidates contested these elections, either representing one of the political parties of Gilgit-Baltistan or being an independent candidate.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly (GBA), officially known as Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA), is a unicameral legislature of elected representatives of the Pakistani territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, which is located in Jutial neighbourhood in the city of Gilgit, the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan. It was established under the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order in 2009 which granted the region self-rule and an elected legislature, having a total of 33 seats, with 24 general seats, 6 seats reserved for women and 3 reserved for Technocrats and Professionals.
Muhammad Khalid Khurshid Khan is a politician who served as the President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Gilgit-Baltistan from May 2022 to December 2023 and as the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, a territory in Northern Pakistan until he was disqualified from his post on 4 July 2023 by the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court. He was also a member of the Gilgit Baltistan Assembly from 25 November 2020 until his disqualification.
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.
The Gilgit-Baltistan Judicial Academy is an agency of the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan in Gilgit for legal training established in 2021. The Academy provides pre-service and in-service training to the judicial officers and court personnel. The management and administration of the Academy are run by the board under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court and an appointed Director-General.
Elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, a Semi-Province of Pakistan are held according to Gilgit-Baltistan 2009 Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan is responsible of conducting elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. Since this order came into power, three Provincial Elections have been conducted.
The Election Commission Gilgit-Baltistan is an independent, autonomous, permanent and constitutionally established body responsible for organizing and conducting elections to the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly and local governments, Gilgit-Baltistan Council, as well as the delimitation of constituencies and preparation of electoral rolls.
Syed Arshad Hussain Shah is a Pakistani jurist who is the former Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He has served as the Chief Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court Gilgit-Baltistan from 2019 to 2022.