A Critical and In-Depth Examination of the Feasibility of Implementing Wilayat-e-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) in Gilgit-Baltistan

گلگت بلتستان میں ولایتِ فقیہ کے ممکنہ نفاذ  کا تحقیقی و تحلیلی جائزہ

Abstract

There exists a belief among those who claim a Shi’a majority in Gilgit-Baltistan that, owing to their demographic dominance, Shi’a adherents could adopt an Iranian-style system of governance in the region. Notably, certain Shi’a scholars also espouse this viewpoint. Although this system of governance is inherently linked to a particular school of thought, its generalization is nonetheless surprising. At a time when, following the severe defeat of two prominent religious parties (both of which are reputed for their association with the doctrine of Wilayat-e-Faqih) in the 2020 elections and those preceding it, any assumption that the system of Wilayat-e-Faqih could be implemented in Gilgit-Baltistan is nothing more than wishful thinking. The assertion of a Shi’a majority in Gilgit-Baltistan can only be substantiated if all three Shi’a groups (Twelver Shi’a, Ismaili Shi’a, and the Imamiyya and Sufi followers of the Noorbakhshi order) are recognized as constituting a single sect. However, it is evident that these three groups exhibit distinct differences in their rituals and beliefs. Given such clear disparities, is it truly possible to establish the existence of a Shi’a majority? This research article seeks to clarify that, in essence, any such system is unacceptable in Gilgit-Baltistan, and even if it were to be implemented, the doctrine of Wilayat-e-Faqih would require numerous amendments, which would inevitably result in a system aligned with democratic principles.