Why did the court disqualify the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan? What will happen now?

Islamabad. A local court in Gilgit Baltistan on Tuesday disqualified the region’s chief minister and senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Khalid Khurshid Khan in a case related to a fake law degree. It is being considered as a new setback for PTI, the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khalid was accused of obtaining a license to practice from the Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Council on the basis of a fake degree.

A three-member bench comprising Justice Malik Inayat-ur-Rehman, Justice Johar Ali and Justice Mohd. Mushtaq passed the order on the petition seeking disqualification of the Chief Minister after hearing the arguments. Ghulam Shahzad Agha, a member of the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly and leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, challenged Khalid’s law degree and appealed for his disqualification under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. Khalid’s lawyer, Advocate Asadullah, said he would challenge the verdict.

“We are waiting for the detailed order and will then file an appeal against it in the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit Baltistan,” he said. All other available options will be used, he added. Khan’s party PTI is facing its toughest phase after its supporters launched an unprecedented attack on sensitive military installations in May. The party said in a statement that it would stand by Khalid, who has a majority in the assembly. Khalid was elected the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan in 2020. India has consistently maintained that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir, including the so-called ‘Gilgit-Baltistan’, has been and will remain an integral part of India.