Story summary
On Tuesday in Islamabad, Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan emphasized the supremacy of the Constitution and stated that every exercise of public authority must adhere to its boundaries. He highlighted that the Constitution is the "supreme expression of the collective will of the people," noting that all institutions created under it derive their authority from this document and are subject to its limits.
The FCC, established in November 2025 via the contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment, has been at the center of debate as some legal experts view it as a means to diminish the role of the Supreme Court (SC) as Pakistan's highest judicial body. Over the past ten months, the FCC has developed its infrastructure, including setting up specialized directorates like those for research, judicial translation, in-house training, and media affairs. This move aims to solidify the court’s authority and operational capabilities amidst ongoing criticism about its legitimacy.
Written for “Supreme Court On Constitution Limits” on 2026-09-15,
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Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan on Tuesday stressed constitutional supremacy and observed that every public exercise must be in accordance with it.
asserted
exercise → stress → it
“The Constitution must remain supreme, and every exercise of the public authority must remain within its constitutional boundaries,” he said while addressing an event in Islamabad.
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he → remain → Islamabad
The FCC chief justice noted that the Constitution was the “supreme expression of the collective will of the people”.
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Constitution → note → people
He went on to say that every institution created under it derived its authority from it and remained subject to its limits.
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institution → go → limits
“Therefore, the fundamental philosophy that must guide the court is simple yet profound.”
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that → guide → court
The FCC was created as part of the judicial restructuring done under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, passed in November 2025.
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FCC → create → November
The contentious amendment, passed by Parliament amid the opposition’s outcry, had been criticised by some legal experts as a means of dethroning the Supreme Court (SC) as the country’s highest judicial forum, ceding that position to the FCC.
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amendment → pass → FCC
In his remarks, Justice Aminuddin noted that as the FCC was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, it was “required to follow the relevant rules” of the SC until its own regulatory framework could be developed.
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framework → note → SC
The judge described the creation of the FCC as an “important institutional development in the constitutional history of Pakistan”.
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judge → describe → Pakistan
He highlighted that constitutional adjudication occupied a “unique position in the administration of justice”.
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adjudication → highlight → justice
“It concerns not merely disputes between individuals but questions touching the very structure of the state, the distribution of constitutional powers, the protection of fundamental rights and the preservation of the constitutional order.”
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It → concern → order
Recalling the challenges faced by the FCC upon its creation, Justice Aminuddin recalled that the court did not inherit a “fully developed institutional infrastructure” when it was created.
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it → recall → infrastructure
“We had to build an institution while simultaneously performing the judicial responsibilities entrusted to us by the Constitution,” he highlighted.
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he → have → Constitution
“In many respects, we began our journey from scratch,” the top FCC judge remarked.
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judge → begin → scratch
“There was no prolonged period of institutional preparation before justice could begin; the court was established, the judges took their oath, and the constitutional responsibility of adjudication commenced,” he said.
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he → be → adjudication
Recalling that three benches of the FCC commenced their work on the day the judges took their oath, Justice Aminuddin said that “moment remains a powerful reminder of the spirit with which this institution was born”.
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institution → recall → which
He noted that the FCC initially began its functioning from the building of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), before it later moved to its current premises, formerly the Federal Shariat Court’s (FSC) building.
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it → note → premises
In November last year, the government had decided to set up offices for FCC judges within the IHC despite space constraints, as FSC judges had reportedly refused to vacate their building for the newly established constitutional court.
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judges → decide → court
“The transition itself was a formidable institutional exercise,” Justice Aminuddin said, adding that the court’s present building was constructed about 46 years ago and was originally designed to accommodate around 100 employees.
“Today, however, nearly 400 officers, officials and attached staff of this court are working within these premises,” the judge observed.
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judge → say → premises
Facilities are under considerable pressure,” he regretted, pointing out that some officials work in improvised cabins and compact workstations.
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officials → regret → cabins
Justice Aminuddin remarked: “Yet, despite these physical limitations, the work has continued, and it has continued because institutions are ultimately not built by concrete and bricks alone.
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institutions → remark → concrete
“Institutions are built by people.
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Institutions → build → people
They are built by commitments.
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They → build → commitments
They are sustained by discipline.
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They → sustain → discipline
They grow through collective sacrifices and devotion to the purpose larger than individual convenience.”
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They → grow → convenience
Detailing the accomplishments of the FCC in the past 10 months, Justice Aminuddin said the court — alongside discharging its duties —has established its essential judicial and administrative infrastructure; developed a directorate of information technology; as well as formed specialised bodies such as the directorates of research, judicial translation, in-house training and media affairs.
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court → detail → house
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