Al-jehad trust: Lawyers rise up against inaction

We will approach the Supreme Court to let it know that its decision has not been implemented, says Advocate Khan.

GILGIT: Lawyers in G-B on Thursday announced to approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan against  the non-implementation of its judgment in the Al-Jehad Trust case.

In the May 1999 judgment of the Al-Jehad Trust vs Federation case, the apex court directed the federal government to ensure the constitutional rights of G-B’s residents within the next six months. In a press conference held at a local hotel, Advocate Shehbaz Khan said the ‘Empowerment and Self governance Order 2009’, under which a chief minister and a governor were elected for the first time in G-B’s history, was an administrative arrangement and not a constitutional one as was ruled by the apex court. “We will approach the Supreme Court of Pakistan to let it know that its decision has not been implemented,” said Advocate Shehbaz Khan.

When asked what lawyers will agree to, Khan said a separate constitution similar to that of Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) or a combine constitution with AJK will be acceptable.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2013.