November 14, 2025
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday unanimously approved updates to the Supreme Court Rules, 2025 during a Full Court meeting, while the Chief of the Federal Constitutional Court was also sworn in. The revision was recommended by a committee formed under Rule 1(4) of Order I of the rules, comprising Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi. The committee was tasked with resolving difficulties that emerged during the transition from the 1980 Rules to the 2025 framework.
The Full Court expressed its appreciation for the committee’s “massive task” of reviewing the 1980 Rules, drafting the new rules and incorporating suggestions aimed at improving implementation. According to the court, the updated Supreme Court Rules, 2025 are intended to strengthen service delivery and ensure inexpensive and swift access to justice.
The Full Court also unanimously approved the elevation of Advocate Muhammad Munir Paracha to the status of Senior Advocate Supreme Court under Rule 5 of Order IV of the updated rules.
Pakistan’s first Federal Constitutional Court becomes operational
In a major development, the country’s first Federal Constitutional Court formally became operational on Friday with the swearing-in of its first Chief Justice, Justice Aminuddin Khan.
President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. The event was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, the heads of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chairman Senate, federal ministers, parliamentarians and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Senior judges and prominent national figures were also present, underscoring the institutional and historic significance of the ceremony.
President Zardari, in his address, called the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court an important step for national stability and highlighted the judiciary’s central role in upholding constitutional order. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need to protect judicial independence and the constitutional framework.
After taking oath, Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan pledged to strengthen justice delivery and uphold constitutional supremacy. His appointment was approved the previous night by the President on the Prime Minister’s advice, following the issuance of a formal notification by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Justice Aminuddin also heads the constitutional bench created under the 26th Amendment.
First phase of judges’ appointments completed
In the first phase of judicial appointments to the Federal Constitutional Court, three judges took oath, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Baqar Najafi and Justice Aamer Farooq. Justice Aminuddin Khan administered the oaths at a ceremony held at the Islamabad High Court.
The Ministry of Law and Justice has issued the notification for the appointment of six judges to the newly established court. According to the notification, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Kareem Khan, Justice Rozi Khan, Justice Ali Baqar and Justice Arshad Hussain will serve on the Federal Constitutional Court.
The court’s secretariat has been set up within the Islamabad High Court. Chief Justice Aminuddin will sit in Room No. 1, while IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar will move to Room No. 2.
Resignation of two Supreme Court judges after passage of 27th Amendment
In a parallel development, two judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, resigned from their positions on Thursday. Both judges submitted their resignations directly to the President and vacated their chambers at the Supreme Court.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s resignation runs 13 pages and is written in both English and Urdu. In it, he calls the 27th Amendment to the Constitution “a serious assault” on the judiciary, alleging that it places the courts under government control and strikes at the heart of constitutional democracy. He wrote that he served the institution with integrity and noted that he steps down with a clear conscience and no regrets. His letter also states that “justice has moved away from the common person” and includes verses by poet Ahmed Faraz.
Justice Athar Minallah’s seven-page resignation states that “the Constitution I swore to protect no longer exists.” He wrote that he took oath 11 years ago and always stood by it, but the new amendment has “stripped the Constitution of its essence.” He said he tried to convince himself that the Constitution was still alive but concluded that reality was otherwise. He added that the oath he took now requires him to resign, noting that he has already sent a detailed letter to the Chief Justice regarding the 27th Amendment and saw no need to repeat those concerns in his resignation.
Earlier, on November 10, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had written to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi warning that the judiciary’s independence and decision-making would suffer if judges did not stand united.