Pakistan’s judicial system underwent a historic restructuring on Friday with the inauguration of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), as Justice Aminuddin Khan was sworn in as its first-ever Chief Justice. The monumental development comes just one day after President Asif Ali Zardari formally enacted the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
During a solemn oath-taking ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Chief Justice Aminuddin pledged to defend the Constitution and the law, promising to follow the code of conduct set by the Supreme Judicial Council. His appointment, sanctioned under Article 175A read with Article 175C of the Constitution, took immediate effect following the administration of the oath.
The establishment of the FCC signifies a major transformation in the nation’s legal framework. The new judicial body is tasked with alleviating the Supreme Court’s substantial caseload, ensuring the swift resolution of constitutional issues, and reinforcing the autonomy of the judiciary-all of which have been persistent concerns for legal experts.
In addition to the Chief Justice, President Zardari also sanctioned the induction of six other justices into the new court. A notification from the Ministry of Law identified the appointed jurists as Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Aamer Farooq, and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi from the Supreme Court, alongside Justice K.K. Agha of the Sindh High Court, Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech of the Balochistan High Court, and Justice (retd) Arshad Hussain Shah.
The newly appointed justices took their respective oaths before Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan. The initial strength of the tribunal has been established by a presidential order, with any subsequent expansion requiring legislative approval from the parliament.
The high-profile event was attended by the country’s top civilian and military figures, including Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Also present on stage were Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The creation of the Federal Constitutional Court is being widely regarded as a landmark measure designed to modernize Pakistan’s judicial architecture and enhance the efficiency of constitutional adjudication.