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ISLAMABAD — In a milestone for Pakistan’s revamped judicial architecture, Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in today as the inaugural Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. President Asif Ali Zardari will administer the oath at the Presidency after approving the appointment on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This development marks a major shift in the country’s constitutional framework and judicial hierarchy. 🇵🇰
Ceremony details and timing ⏰
Officials say Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in at around 11:00am at a specially arranged open area between the judges’ and administration block of the Islamabad High Court. The oath will be administered by President Zardari under clause (3) of Article 175-A read with Article 175-C of the Constitution, and the appointment takes effect from the moment Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in. After his oath, Justice Aminuddin will in turn administer oaths to the other newly appointed FCC judges. For the official constitutional text, see the Government of Pakistan’s legal resources and the Supreme Court website. Supreme Court of Pakistan.
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Veteran jurist Aminuddin Khan, who began his legal career nearly four decades ago, previously led the constitutional bench established under the 26th Amendment. With the passage of the 27th Amendment, Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in as the head of the newly formed FCC — a body that will assume many of the constitutional adjudication powers previously exercised by the Supreme Court. His deep experience on constitutional benches positions him to guide the FCC through its early, institution-building phase. For context on the amendments, read coverage by Dawn and Reuters.
What the FCC replaces and why it matters 🧭
The 27th Amendment created the Federal Constitutional Court and shifted several powers from the Supreme Court, including the authority to take suo motu notice in certain constitutional matters. With the FCC established, Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in to lead a court designed for equal provincial representation and to relieve the Supreme Court of some original-jurisdiction burdens. This institutional redesign aims to streamline constitutional cases and reassign responsibilities across the judicial system.
Bench formation and new rules of practice 📝
Alongside the FCC formation, Parliament passed the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2025, which reorganises bench-formation powers. A three-member committee — chaired by the Chief Justice and including the senior-most judge plus a third judge nominated by the Chief Justice — will decide on composing benches. These reforms mean that when Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in, he will join a judiciary operating under new internal procedures for case allocation and bench constitution.
Tenure, retirement age and leadership succession 🔁
The retirement age for FCC judges has been raised to 68, three years higher than the Supreme Court’s retirement age of 65, giving the new court a longer potential tenure profile. Chief Justice Yahya Afridi remains the Supreme Court’s top judge until his three-year term concludes; thereafter the most senior judge among the Supreme Court and FCC judges will assume the top judicial role. Observers note that when Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in, these succession rules will be important for long-term judicial continuity.
Political and legal reactions 📣
Reactions have been mixed. Supporters argue the FCC will provide specialised constitutional adjudication and reduce case backlog at the Supreme Court. Critics warn about concentrating appointment influence between the President and the Prime Minister and urge transparency in bench formation and suo motu transfers. Legal scholars will closely examine how Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in balances independence, institutional coherence, and public trust. Follow in-depth analysis on NewsCloud at NewsCloud.
Practical implications for litigants and courts 🏛️
Practically, cases that would earlier reach the Supreme Court under Article 184 may now be routed to the FCC. Petitioners, counsel, and human-rights groups should monitor procedural notices and rules issued by the new court once Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in. The shift may speed up constitutional adjudication but will require clarity in transitional rules and case assignment to avoid jurisdictional confusion.
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After the oath ceremony, the FCC will begin constituting benches and defining its internal procedures. Observers will watch for the first set of suo motu notices taken by the FCC and how they compare to past Supreme Court practice. The appointment is a turning point: Justice Aminuddin set to be sworn in not only as a jurist but as the institutional face of Pakistan’s constitutional reform.
FAQs❓
Q1: When is Justice Aminuddin’s oath? — He is scheduled to take oath today at around 11:00am at the President House/Islamabad High Court open area.
Q2: What powers does the FCC have? — The FCC inherits several constitutional jurisdictions from the Supreme Court, including select suo motu authority.
Q3: Who appointed Justice Aminuddin? — President Zardari appointed him on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif under constitutional provisions cited in Article 175-A and 175-C.
Q4: Will the Supreme Court still exist? — Yes. The Supreme Court continues to function, but certain constitutional-case powers have been transferred to the FCC.
Q5: Where can I read official notices? — Official notices and records will be available at the Supreme Court and presidency portals; ongoing coverage is on NewsCloud.
