Pakistan’s first Federal Constitutional Court issued its first decision on Monday, suspending the Peshawar High Court’s ruling and granting a stay order on the appeal filed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Hasan Rizvi, heard the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s appeal, which requested suspension of the Peshawar High Court’s decision regarding employer-employee matters.
The bench of the Federal Constitutional Court commenced proceedings in Courtroom No. 2 of the Islamabad High Court. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin, is conducting the hearing. The bench comprises Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, and Justice Arshad Hussain Shah as its members.
Earlier, Chief Justice Aminuddin constituted three benches. The bench No. 1 includes Chief Justice Aminuddin, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, and Justice Arshad Hussain Shah. The second bench comprises Justice Hasan Rizvi and Justice K. K. Agha, while the third bench includes Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Rozi Khan.
On the other hand, after the Federal Constitutional Court moved into the Islamabad High Court building, the process of reallocating courtrooms is underway. Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar will continue hearing cases in Courtroom No. 1, while Chief Justice Aminuddin will sit in Courtroom No. 2.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani’s courtroom has been moved from Courtroom No. 2 to the courtroom of Justice Mian Gul Aurangzeb. Judges of the Constitutional Court – Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi – will sit on the third floor.
Meanwhile, the FCC set aside a Lahore High Court ruling regarding the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of King Edward Medical University (KEMU), effectively disposing of the case.
Moreover, the FCC on Monday directed the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) to submit a comprehensive report on the nationwide availability of life-saving medicines and adjourned further proceedings for an indefinite period.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan took up the case.
Also, the FCC rejected a plea for an immediate stay order in a constitutional petition filed by employees of the Punjab Revenue Department seeking regularisation of their services.
The court directed the petitioners to engage legal counsel before further proceedings.
In yet another case, the FCC suspended a Sindh High Court’s ruling that barred the use of public parks in Karachi for commercial and sports-related activities.
The order was issued while hearing an appeal filed by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) against the earlier judgment.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan took up the case on Monday.
Separately, two more judges of the FCC took oath of their office at a ceremony held at the Conference Hall of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday.
FCC Chief Justice (CJ) Justice Aminuddin Khan administered the oath to Justice Rozi Khan and Justice Arshad Hussain Shah.
Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice KK Agha have already taken oath of their office.