GILGIT: Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan on Wednesday took oath as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) for the second time. The oath was administered by GB Governor Syed Mehdi Shah during a ceremony held at the Governor’s House in Gilgit.
The event was attended by Chief Judge of the GB Chief Court Justice Ali Baig, other judges, senior members of the judiciary, civil and military officials, and prominent lawyers.
Read More: Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim takes oath as Chief Judge SAC GB
Justice Shamim Khan’s previous three-year tenure concluded on November 4. According to an official notification, “The Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council, on the advice of the Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan, has appointed Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan as the Chief Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court, Gilgit-Baltistan, with effect from November 5 until he attains the age of 70, in accordance with Article 75(8) of the GB Order 2018.”
Meanwhile, the appointments of two additional judges to the GB Supreme Appellate Court remain pending as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has yet to approve the summary submitted a month ago by GB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan. The summary reportedly included the names of eight candidates for the two vacant posts.
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Lawyers’ bodies in Gilgit-Baltistan have repeatedly protested and boycotted court proceedings this year over the long-standing judicial vacancies. They noted that two judges have not been appointed for the past eight years, leaving thousands of cases, including several of public importance, unresolved.
The GB Supreme Appellate Court, which comprises a chief judge and two other members, has been functioning with only one judge for several years. The GB High Court Bar Association said this situation has paralysed the court’s functioning since a single judge cannot adjudicate all cases.
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In August, lawyer bodies had ended their protest after receiving assurances that the pending appointments would be made within a month. However, the posts remain vacant, adding to concerns over delayed justice in the region.