ISLAMABAD: The federal government announced the appointment of Justice (Retd) Yar Muhammad as the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave his approval to this appointment after consultation.
Coming from village Nasirabad of District Astore, the ex-Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court Judge, Justice Yar Muhammad Khan was definitely a good choice for the top executive office in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He obtained his LLB from Karachi. Before taking the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) exam for the position of Civil Judge, he was engaged in the practice of law in Gilgit-Baltistan for almost 15 years. He then moved up the judicial ladder and served as District and Session Judge, Registrar of the Chief Court and finally Judge of the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court.
During his bench work, Justice Yar Muhammad was engaged with constitutional, civil, and electoral issues. Besides, as a member of an election tribunal, he was tasked with the decision of disputes and the processing of appeals concerning candidacies. His judicial career was characterized by a remarkable standard of professionalism and honesty.
Once he had left active service, he took part in the domain activities and these days is working as a mentor at The Legal Acumen, where he guides young attorneys and provides them with constitutional, civil and appellate advice.
Equipped with his vast judicial background, Justice Yar Muhammad will most probably be instrumental in not only ensuring the transparency of elections but also the smooth running of the administration in Gilgit-Baltistan during his stint as the caretaker Chief Minister. His coming on the scene is mostly interpreted as a step towards maintaining the level of fairness and professionalism in the region’s governance and electoral processes.
