SC for timely G-B polls under impartial caretakers.

Byline: Hasnaat Malik

ISLAMABAD -- The top court has declared that the upcoming general election in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region should be held 'on time' under the supervision of an 'impartial caretaker government setup' and ordered the federal government to issue a presidential order to adopt Election Act 2017 in the G-B.

'The court directs [the government] to take all other steps necessary and incidental to hold free, fair and transparent elections under impartial caretaker government in line with Article 56 (5) of the proposed G-B Governance Reforms Order 2019 with all provisos as incorporated in schedule to the apex court [dated] January 17, 2019.' said the order issued By: a Supreme Court seven-member bench.

The 7-page order, authored By: Justice Ijazul Ahsan, was issued on a government petition that sought permission to establish a caretaker setup in the region for holding the upcoming provincial elections.

Tenure of the incumbent G-B government is set to end on June 24 and the next general election in region would become due within 60 days.

At the hearing of the case on April 28, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan had told the bench that the previous election in the region was held under G-B Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009, but the new order passed in 2018 was silent on the caretaker setup.

The government petition said: 'It would be [in the] interest of justice that till the promulgation of proposed reforms in the G-B, the federal government may be allowed to make necessary amendments in the government of G-B Order 2018 for the caretaker government and conduct of elections for the G-B Assembly, facilitating the adaptation of the Election Act 2017, Rules/Regulations thereunder and to do all that is necessary to continue democratic electoral process in the area.'

Later, the bench on April 28 issued a notice to G-B's advocate general over the federal government's petition. The decision had elicited a strong reaction from New Delhi that last week lodged a protest with Pakistan over the SC order. Pakistan had, however, dismissed the Indian objections.

Issuing a written order on the government's petition, the SC said it is in the interest of the people of G-B as well as...