Constitution Must Remain Supreme, Says FCC Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Federal Constitutional Court Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan has stressed that Pakistan’s Constitution must remain supreme and that every exercise of public authority must operate within the boundaries established by it.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad marking the beginning of the new judicial year, the chief justice said constitutional supremacy, judicial independence and non-discriminatory access to justice must remain central principles of the country’s legal system.
He said adherence to the Constitution was essential not only for the functioning of state institutions but also for maintaining stability and public confidence in the legal system.
The chief justice stressed that the courts must ensure justice without discrimination and that constitutional principles should guide the exercise of state power. Geo News separately reported that he identified constitutional supremacy and non-discriminatory justice as priorities for the court.
Justice Aminuddin also discussed the functioning of the Federal Constitutional Court, saying its procedures were being strengthened to improve transparency and efficiency.
According to current reporting, he said the FCC had introduced transparent mechanisms for the constitution of benches and assignment of cases, while efforts were also being made to ensure that litigants receive timely access to constitutional justice.
The remarks carry particular significance because the Federal Constitutional Court is now a central institution in Pakistan’s constitutional framework.
The FCC was established following the constitutional restructuring approved in 2025, assuming final interpretative responsibilities in constitutional matters previously exercised through the Supreme Court’s constitutional jurisdiction.
The court has since addressed questions surrounding its relationship with earlier Supreme Court precedents. In a judgment reported earlier this year, the FCC held that the ultimate standard for constitutional adjudication remains the Constitution itself, while saying earlier Supreme Court constitutional jurisprudence continues to carry significant persuasive value.
That ruling also stated that departure from earlier precedent should be reasoned and principled rather than arbitrary, underscoring the FCC’s developing approach to constitutional interpretation.
Justice Aminuddin’s latest remarks therefore reinforce a broader principle that the authority of state institutions — including judicial institutions — ultimately derives from and remains limited by the Constitution.
The chief justice also highlighted institutional improvements at the FCC, including measures aimed at transparency in hearings and judicial administration.
His address comes as the Federal Constitutional Court continues to hear politically and legally significant cases. On Monday, for example, a three-member bench headed by Justice Aminuddin issued notice to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in a petition challenging his appointment.
The new judicial year is expected to bring further constitutional litigation before the court, placing renewed attention on how the FCC interprets fundamental rights, institutional powers and the constitutional limits governing public authorities.
