- FCC inaugurated following enactment of the 27th Constitutional Amendment
- Six judges appointed to FCC with Justices-Rizvi, Farooq and Najafi take oath at IHC
ISLAMABAD: Justice Aminuddin Khan on Friday was sworn in as the first chief justice of the newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), just a day after the 27th Constitutional Amendment was formally enacted into law. The ceremony, held at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad, marked a major milestone in Pakistan’s judicial reforms and the creation of a specialized body to adjudicate constitutional matters.
The high-profile event was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also sat alongside Justice Aminuddin on the stage.
President Asif Ali Zardari administered oath to Justice Aminuddin Khan as Chief Justice of Federal Constitutional Court at Aiwan e Sadr. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir (NI(M), HJ) Chairman JCSC & chiefs of Air Force & Navy also attended. pic.twitter.com/ls1TjtduSF
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 14, 2025
Prominent political figures, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, his sister Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani, and members of the federal cabinet, were present at the ceremony.
The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, after which President Zardari administered the oath to Justice Aminuddin in English. In his oath, Justice Aminuddin vowed to discharge his duties strictly according to the Constitution and law while adhering to the code of conduct issued by the Supreme Judicial Council.
“That I will not allow my personal interest 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 right to all manner of people according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill will,” Justice Aminuddin affirmed, before shaking hands with the president.
President Asif Ali Zardari hosted a dinner at Aiwan-e-Sadr in honour of delegates attending the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference. He lauded the forum’s role in strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and fostering dialogue for peace, security and development. pic.twitter.com/aM7y8EK1Bu
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) November 12, 2025
His appointment, made by President Zardari a day earlier under Clause 3 of Article 175A, read with Article 175C of the Constitution, officially came into effect upon his oath-taking. The FCC’s establishment, revived as part of the judicial reforms under the 27th Amendment, aims to reduce the Supreme Court’s workload, ensure timely adjudication of constitutional cases, and strengthen judicial independence and credibility.
President Zardari also appointed six additional judges to the FCC: Justices Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Aamer Farooq, and Ali Baqar Najafi of the Supreme Court; Justice KK Agha of the Sindh High Court; Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech; and Justice (retd) Arshad Hussain Shah, following Justice Musarrat Hilali’s decision not to join.
Three judges of Federal Constitutional Court take oath
On other hand, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Amir Farooq, and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi took the oath as judges of the Federal Constitutional Court. The oath was administered by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, who himself took office short while earlier as the first chief justice of the court.
The ceremony brought together senior judges, legal officers and representatives of the bar. Judges and legal community attend the ceremony. Several prominent members of the judiciary attended the oath-taking ceremony, including Islamabad High Court Justice Arbab Tahir, Justice Khadim Soomro, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, Justice Muhammad Asif, Justice Inam Amin Minhas
Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Punjab Advocate General Amjad Pervez, and various law officers were also present.
Leaders of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, including President Wajid Gilani and Secretary Manzoor Jajja, participated in the event.
Justice Musarrat Hilali ‘declines’ to become FCC judge
Supreme Court (SC) judge Justice Musarrat Hilali has declined to become a judge of the newly-formed Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).
According to the sources, Justice Hilali cited her health issues for not accepting the post.
The initial strength of the FCC was determined by presidential order, with any future increase in judges requiring parliamentary approval. The oath-taking ceremony, initially scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m., was delayed due to minor revisions to the 27th Amendment, requiring the legislation’s return to the Senate. Sources said the ceremony’s location also changed after judges of the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) resisted immediate relocation to the third floor of the IHC, expressing dissatisfaction over the sudden move.
The creation of the FCC, intended to be initially housed in the FSC building, represents a significant step in Pakistan’s judicial reform agenda, aiming to balance institutional efficiency with the independence and credibility of the judiciary.
