The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has overturned the Lahore High Court’s decision that had nullified Dr. Asad Aslam’s appointment as Vice Chancellor of King Edward Medical University (KEMU). The Constitutional Court ruled that the matter, pending for nearly eight years, needed final adjudication. The original petition, filed by Iftikhar Ahmed, challenged Dr. Aslam’s appointment, which was initially upheld by the Lahore High Court but later reversed.
The Lahore High Court had earlier ruled in favor of the petitioner, setting aside Dr. Aslam’s appointment. This prompted the legal challenge, which ultimately reached the FCC. During the hearing in Islamabad, no party appeared before the court. However, the bench made it clear that any aggrieved party could approach the court for further relief if necessary.
The FCC’s decision effectively reinstates Dr. Asad Aslam as the Vice Chancellor of KEMU, unless a new petition is submitted and adjudicated. This ruling marks a significant development in the prolonged legal battle regarding the leadership of the prestigious medical institution. It also reflects the Court’s commitment to resolving long-standing cases.
In a separate but related event, two new judges took an oath in the Federal Constitutional Court. Justice Rozi Khan and Justice Arshad Hussain Shah were sworn in, bringing the total number of judges to seven. Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan officiated the oath-taking ceremony, adding to the FCC’s growing bench of judges.
The Federal Constitutional Court is now divided into three benches. Bench-I includes Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, and Justice Arshad Hussain Shah. Bench-II consists of Justice Hassan Rizvi and Justice K.K. Agha. Bench-III includes Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Rozi Khan, allowing the court to handle a wider range of cases.
