Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Pakistan Swears In First Chief of New Constitutional Court as President Accepts Supreme Court Resignations

The new court now holds constitutional jurisdiction, marking a power shift that elevates Asim Munir to chief of defence forces with lifetime immunity.

Overview

  • Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan took the oath to lead the Federal Constitutional Court, which assumes constitutional cases previously handled by the Supreme Court.
  • President Asif Ali Zardari accepted the resignations of Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah, who denounced the 27th Amendment as a grave blow to judicial independence.
  • Parliament passed the 27th Amendment with two‑thirds majorities and swiftly approved related laws revising the Supreme Court’s practice rules and aligning the military acts.
  • The reform elevates Army Chief Asim Munir to chief of defence forces with field marshal status and lifetime immunity, and the government says his five‑year term restarts to run until 2030.
  • The Supreme Court called a full meeting of judges as legal groups and former judges signaled challenges to the changes, including the abolition of the Joint Chiefs role and creation of a National Strategic Command.