Articles by Naveed Butt

Business

Resignations of two SC judges accepted

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday accepted the resignations of Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah. According to official confirmation, the President has approved the resignations of both Supreme Court judges. Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah had submitted their resignations to President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday. Their departure comes at a time of significant transition within Pakistan’s judiciary, following major constitutional changes and the recent oath-taking of Justice Aminuddin Khan as the first Chief Justice of the newly established Federal Constitutional Court. In his resignation letter, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah sharply criticised the 27th Constitutional Amendment, describing it as a “severe blow” to the Supreme Court and an “attack on the Constitution.” Justice Athar Minallah also issued a strongly worded resignation, asserting that the amendment had effectively abolished the very Constitution he had sworn to protect. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025

Politics

Justice Aminuddin takes oath as first CJ of FCC

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday administered the oath of office to Justice Aminuddin Khan as the Chief Justice of the newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) after the enactment of the 27th Constitutional Amendment into law just a day earlier. The oath-taking ceremony was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani, PPP’s Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari and members of the federal cabinet. Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sat alongside Justice Aminuddin on the stage. During the ceremony, Justice Aminuddin pledged to perform his duties in accordance with the Constitution and the law, and to adhere to the code of conduct prescribed by the Supreme Judicial Council. “That I will not allow my personal interest to influence my official conduct or my official decisions. That I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and that in all circumstances, I will do right to all manner of people according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill will,” he said, before shaking hands with the president. His appointment was formally made by President Zardari a day earlier under Clause 3 of Article 175A, read with Article 175C of the Constitution. The appointment took effect upon his oath-taking. The establishment of the FCC is a key component of the judicial reforms introduced under the 27th Constitutional Amendment. President Zardari also appointed six other judges to the FCC. According to a notification issued by the law ministry, the appointments were made under Clause 3 of Article 175A, read with Article 175C of the Constitution. The judges appointed to the FCC include Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Aamer Farooq, and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of the Supreme Court; Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha of the Sindh High Court; Justice Rozi Khan Barrech, former Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court; and retired Justice Arshad Hussain Shah. The initial strength of the FCC has been set through a presidential order, while any future increase in the number of judges will require approval from Parliament through legislation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025