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Pakistan Swears In Constitutional Court Chief as Two Supreme Court Judges Resign

The overhaul moves constitutional authority to a new court, triggering resignations and legal challenges.

Overview

  • President Asif Ali Zardari’s assent made the 27th Amendment law after two‑thirds approvals in both houses, restructuring judicial and military power.
  • Justice Aminuddin Khan was appointed and sworn in as the first chief justice of the Federal Constitutional Court, which now handles constitutional cases with binding effect.
  • The National Assembly swiftly passed companion laws altering the Army, Air Force and Navy Acts and Supreme Court procedures to align with the amendment.
  • The reforms elevate Asim Munir to chief of defence forces with five‑star, lifelong rank and immunity, with the government stating his five‑year term restarts through 2030 and could be extended.
  • Supreme Court Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah resigned in protest, their letters calling the changes a “grave assault,” as bar petitions, protests and court deliberations continued.