SHC Judge KK Agha is expected to take oath today and talks over the number of members of the court will increase to 13.
President Asif Ali Zardari signs the documents after administering oath to Justice Aminuddin Khan as the first Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court at Aiwan-e-Sadr. Photo: INP
ISLAMABAD:
Shortly after the Senate passed four bills related to the recently passed 27th Constitutional Amendment with a majority vote on Friday, the government moved quickly to begin shaping the new judicial framework.
Justice Aminuddin Khan took oath as the first President of the Federal Constitutional Court.
President Asif Ali Zardari administered oath to the newly appointed FCC Chief Justice in a ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
In a related development, the President accepted the resignations of Supreme Court Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah. This was announced in a publication on the president’s official X account.
The two judges hung up their robes Thursday and described the legislation as an affront to the judiciary and the 1973 Constitution.
The swearing-in ceremony of the first FCC Chief Justice began with the recitation of the Holy Quran.
In his oath, Justice Aminuddin promised to perform his duties in accordance with the Constitution and the law, while adhering to the code of conduct issued by the Supreme Judicial Council.
“That I will not allow my personal interests to influence my official conduct or my official decisions. That I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and that, in all circumstances, I will do good to all types of people according to the law, without fear or favor, affection or ill will,” he said in his oath, after which he shook the president’s hand.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Justice Yahaya Afridi. Also in attendance were Senate President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, federal ministers, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, CJCSC General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, besides parliamentarians and figures from the legal fraternity.
His appointment was made by the President under section 3 of Article 175A, read together with Article 175C, of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, the president also appointed six FCC judges. A notification issued by the Ministry of Justice said that the president made the appointments under clause 3 of Article 175-A read with Article 175-C of the Constitution.
Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of the Supreme Court, Justice KK Agha of the Sindh High Court and Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Rozi Khan Barrech were appointed as members of the FCC.
Justice (retd) Arshad Hussain Shah has also been appointed. He was appointed judge. Musarrat Hilali was not willing to join the FCC.
Sindh High Court Judge Karim Khan Agha is expected to take oath today, completing the seven-member bench.
The initial strength of the FCC was determined by a presidential order, while any future increase in the number of judges will require parliamentary approval through an act of parliament.
Of the judges appointed to the FCC, Justices Rizvi, Farooq and Najafi took oath before Justice Aminuddin at the Islamabad High Court.
Sources said the government has decided to increase the strength of the FCC to 13.
