Islamabad: The Supreme Court on Thursday announced its verdict in a case pertaining to the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) – a news source reported.
A larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, ordered immediate promulgation of a presidential order enshrining framework for governance of the area.
The top court also barred the government from amending the order, except in terms of the procedure provided in Article 124. The president will promulgate the order on the advice of the federal government.
On January 7, the seven-judge bench had reserved its verdict in the case regarding Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018, and Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order, 2009.
The federal government had presented a draft of Gilgit-Baltistan Governance Reforms, 2018. This draft had been prepared in order to ensure political empowerment and good governance in GB.
Residents of the northern area had urged the government to declare Gilgit-Baltistan as part of Pakistan. Currently, GB is being administered through presidential orders.
