ISLAMABAD: Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha was sworn in as a judge of Pakistan’s Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Saturday. Chief Justice of the FCC, Justice Amin Uddin Khan, administered the oath in a ceremony at the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Several judges from both the FCC and IHC attended the event. The ceremony marked the formal induction of Justice Agha, alongside fellow FCC judges who took their oaths the previous day.
Notably, five IHC judges did not attend the ceremony. Among those absent were Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, and others. The ceremony also saw the participation of IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, along with other IHC judges. Several key members of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, including President Syed Wajid Gillani, were also present.
The swearing-in of Justice Agha comes amid significant turmoil in Pakistan’s judiciary. Recently, two senior Supreme Court judges, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, resigned in protest against the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Justice Shah’s resignation letter criticized the amendment as a direct attack on Pakistan’s constitution, arguing it has weakened the judiciary and diminished justice for the common man.
Justice Shah’s resignation statement highlighted how the 27th Amendment divided the country’s highest court, resulting in a setback for the nation’s democratic progress. He condemned the erosion of judicial independence and stated he could not uphold his oath in a court where its constitutional role had been undermined.
The 27th Amendment has been a highly contentious issue within Pakistan’s legal community. While some embrace the changes, others, like Justice Shah, view them as detrimental to the principles of justice and fairness. The ongoing debate reflects the growing divide within Pakistan’s judiciary over the country’s constitutional future.
