Historic Oath-Taking Ceremony for Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court

Inaugural Judges Sworn In Under New Constitutional Amendment

Three Supreme Court justices officially joined Pakistan’s newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) during a ceremony in Islamabad on Friday. President Asif Ali Zardari appointed the first six judges to the court, marking a significant judicial milestone under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. FCC Chief Justice Amin Uddin Khan administered the oath to Justices Aamer Farooq, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Ali Baqar Najafi in a ceremony attended by multiple Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges and Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan. The event saw notable absences from five IHC judges, including Justice Babar Sattar and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, though no official reasons were provided for their non-attendance.

Diverse Judicial Appointments Reflect National Representation

The Ministry of Law and Human Rights confirmed the judicial appointments through an official notification, revealing the comprehensive selection process involving consultation between President Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and FCC Chief Justice Amin Uddin Khan. The appointed judges represent multiple judicial tiers, including Supreme Court justices and high court leaders from Sindh and Balochistan. Notably, retired Justice Arshad Hussain Shah joined the FCC, replacing Justice Musarrat Hilali who declined the position earlier due to health concerns. This diverse composition underscores the government’s effort to ensure broad judicial representation across Pakistan’s provinces and legal hierarchy.

Constitutional Reform Ushers in New Judicial Era

The FCC’s establishment follows the landmark 27th Constitutional Amendment, which created the specialized court to handle constitutional matters. Chief Justice Amin Uddin Khan, sworn in earlier on Friday for a three-year term, presided over the historic ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr attended by Pakistan’s top leadership. The event saw the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, highlighting the national importance of this judicial development. The FCC’s creation aims to streamline constitutional jurisprudence while reducing the Supreme Court’s caseload, representing a structural evolution in Pakistan’s legal framework.