Pakistan's 'super court' and legal shield for Asim Munir gets a chief justice

Pakistan’s controversial Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), which is touted as the legal shield of Field Marshal Asim Munir, got its new chief justice. On Friday, Justice Aminuddin Khan was sworn in as the first chief justice of the newly established court after the country’s parliament enacted the 27th Amendment into law.

According to Pakistani news outlet Dawn, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza were present for the ceremony, which was held at the Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad. Interestingly, during the ceremony, Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sat alongside Justice Aminuddin on the stage.

As per the report, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, his sister Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani, and members of the federal cabinet were also present at the event. The ceremony began with the recitation of the Quran, following which Zardari administered Justice Aminuddin’s oath.

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In his oath, Justice Aminuddin vowed to discharge his duties in accordance with the Constitution and the law. He also maintained that he would abide by the code of conduct issued 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 in his oath, after which he shook hands with the president.

On the same day, President Zardari appointed six judges to the FCC. Regarding this, a notification was issued by the law ministry, obtained by Dawn, that mentioned that the Pakistani president made the appointments under Clause 3 of Article 175-A read with Article 175-C of the Constitution.

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The judges appointed by Zardari are: Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi of the Supreme Court, Justice K.K. Agha of the Sindh High Court and Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech. Justice (retd) Arshad Hussain Shah has also been appointed to the court.