Justice Aminuddin Khan was sworn in as the first Chief Justice of Pakistan’s new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Friday, a day after President Asif Ali Zardari signed the 27th Constitutional Amendment into law.
The oath took place at Aiwan e Sadr, the presidential residence, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi in attendance.
Zardari appointed Khan under Article 175A(3) combined with Article 175C of the Constitution. The law will take effect the day after Khan’s swearing‑in.
The FCC was created to lighten the Supreme Court’s workload and ensure faster, more independent decisions on constitutional matters. Six judges were named for the new court: Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi (Supreme Court), Justice KK Agha (Sindh High Court), Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barreć (Balochistan High Court) and retired Justice Arshad Hussain Shah.
The Senate approved the 56‑clause amendment after a second vote, even as opposition groups protested. The bill was first passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday and then sent back to the Senate for a final review.
Opposition parties say the amendment weakens the judiciary’s autonomy. PTI leader Gohar Ali Khan claimed the office of Chief Justice had been “abandoned” and vowed to restore its powers. Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party said it would launch peaceful protests to “reclaim the people’s mandate.”
The FCC’s creation marks a significant shift in Pakistan’s legal landscape, aiming to boost judicial efficiency and independence.
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