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Supreme Court Declares It and Federal Constitutional Court Independent, Non-Subordinate Bodies
Pakistan’s Supreme Court rules that it and the Federal Constitutional Court have separate jurisdictions, clarifying their roles after the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
ND
by News Desk
2026-05-06
Supreme Court Declares It and Federal Constitutional Court Independent, Non-Subordinate Bodies

Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled that it and the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) operate as independent, coordinate institutions, with neither court subordinate to the other. The landmark judgment clarifies the division of judicial powers following the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi stated that both courts have distinct constitutional jurisdictions. According to the ruling, constitutional “writ petitions” under Article 199 will now fall under the exclusive authority of the Federal Constitutional Court, while regular civil and appellate cases will continue to be handled by the Supreme Court under Article 185.

The court further ordered that cases combining constitutional and non-constitutional matters must be separated and routed to their respective forums. It emphasized that continuing to hear such combined cases could lead to legal confusion and conflicting judgments.

The judgment also clarified that neither court can act as an appellate authority over the other. While decisions may hold persuasive value, both courts remain equal within their defined constitutional domains.

Additionally, the Supreme Court ruled that contempt cases linked to its own orders will remain within its jurisdiction, even after the constitutional changes.

This decision is seen as a significant step in defining Pakistan’s evolving judicial structure and ensuring clarity in the separation of constitutional and regular judicial functions.
Tagged:

#SupremeCourt #PakistanJudiciary #FCC #Constitution #LegalReform #27thAmendment #CourtRuling #PakistanNews #LawAndJustice #JudicialSystem
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