Interim set-up: PTI challenges G-B interim setup in Supreme Court

Submits petition against governor, interim CM and poll chief.

GILGIT: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday challenged the appointments of the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) governor, interim chief minister and chief election commissioner in the apex court, terming them illegal.

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court of Pakistan by Amna Ansari and Mirza Hussain against Governor Birjis Tahir, Interim Chief Minister Sher Jahan Mir and Chief Election Commissioner Syed Tahir Ali Shah. Ansari and Hussain joined PTI last month after defecting from Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

“We have challenged the appointments because we think these are illegal and unconstitutional,” said Amna Ansari. “We are hopeful the apex court will dispense justice in this case,” she told The Express Tribune.

Ansari added they have hired services of lawyers from Islamabad to strengthen the case as elections are scheduled in G-B in May.

PTI chief Imran Khan recently said his party would challenge the appointments in the Supreme Court of Pakistan as the interim chief minister and chief election commissioner were closely associated with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.

PM Nawaz Sharif had appointed Sher Jehan Mir as the caretaker chief minister of G-B in December after the Mehdi Shah-led PPP government completed its five-year tenure.

Similarly, the appointment of Governor Birjis Tahir, who is also Federal Minister for G-B and Kashmir Affairs, was also made by the prime minister after amendments to the G-B governance order.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2015.