Proposed Constitutional Court likely to be shifted to Federal Sharia Court building, Sharia Court may be shifted to the third floor of Islamabad High Court, report
Court Reporter, Daily Dawn, Dawn TV
Islamabad: The draft of the 27th Constitutional Amendment has not yet been brought before the public, but its effects are already being felt in the judicial circles of the federal capital.
The proposed amendment was challenged in the Supreme Court, while various ‘administrative activities’ gave the impression that preparations for the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) have begun, a proposal that is allegedly part of the latest constitutional package.
These same steps apparently prompted a Supreme Court judge to comment that ‘the change of building will not reduce his powers’.
Administrative arrangements observed at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suggest that the proposed Federal Constitutional Court may be shifted to the Federal Sharia Court (FSC) building, while it is also under consideration to shift the Federal Sharia Court to the third floor of the High Court building.
The Federal Sharia Court is currently functioning with only three judges (including the Chief Justice) as against the sanctioned strength of eight.
Sources said that all the Sharia Court judges could be easily accommodated on one floor of the High Court.
He confirmed that the process of vacating the third floor of the High Court is underway, and office equipment is being shifted to other locations.
Officials have termed the move as part of a “broader administrative reorganisation”.
An office order issued by the judicial wing of the IHC on November 7 indicated an internal reorganisation related to record management.
This development was also echoed in the Supreme Court, where, during the hearing of a case related to service rules, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel remarked that ‘there will be no reduction in authority by changing the building’.
These remarks came when the head of the bench, Justice Aminuddin Khan, asked senior lawyer Faisal Siddiqui how much time he would need to complete his arguments.
The lawyer replied that ‘it may take some time,’ but he expressed his desire that ‘the case should be concluded today, because I do not intend to stand inside the Shariat Court building and give arguments.’
To this, the lawyer added that if the building is to be taken over, why only the Shariat Court? Why not the building next to it (pointing to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat)?
Justice Mandokhel smiled and said, ‘There must have been some progress in your favor last night.’
Faisal Siddiqui replied, ‘I am absolutely sure that the Supreme Court will not suffer any harm.’
On this, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel said, “If this is the sentiment, then what is the point of worrying?”
Justice Aminuddin remarked that we are bound by the orders of the Constitution.
The lawyer further said that the judges look so dignified in the courtroom of the Supreme Court; everyone knows why the Shariat Court was established.
On this occasion, Justice Jamal Mandokhel once again said that “the change of the building will not reduce the powers of the court.”
Leave a Reply