Law Minister Says FCC, Supreme Court Jurisdictions Clearly Defined
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar addresses lawyers at the Lahore High Court Bar Association’s Rawalpindi Bench.
Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar has said the Constitution clearly defines the powers and jurisdiction of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and the Supreme Court.
Speaking at a ceremony hosted by the Lahore High Court Bar Association’s Rawalpindi Bench on Thursday, Tarar said there should be no ambiguity over the respective jurisdictions of the two courts.
Tarar Explains Role of Federal Constitutional Court
The minister said the 27th Constitutional Amendment established the FCC to provide a dedicated forum for constitutional interpretation.
According to Tarar, the arrangement aims to promote consistency in the interpretation of constitutional matters. He also said the constitutional framework clearly sets out cases that fall within the FCC’s jurisdiction.
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Tarar said the amendment also provides for equal representation of the provinces in the FCC. He argued that such representation reflects Pakistan’s federal structure and the different circumstances of its federating units.
The National Assembly’s published text of the 27th Amendment provides for a Federal Constitutional Court with equal numbers of judges from each province, along with representation from the Islamabad High Court.
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Tarar said the lessons of previous constitutional developments informed the 26th and 27th amendments.
He maintained that constitutional interpretation now falls within the FCC’s assigned jurisdiction under the amended constitutional framework.
“There is no need to further complicate this debate,” Tarar said, according to the government’s account of his remarks. He added that the Constitution clearly establishes the FCC and defines its jurisdiction.
The minister also said decisions of the FCC that fall within its constitutional authority would apply to relevant courts. He linked this arrangement to judicial consistency and the rule of law.
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During the ceremony, Tarar also discussed wider legal-sector reforms.
He said the government had increased financial support for bar councils and bar associations. He also said rules under the Lawyers Protection Act had been framed and that implementation remained a priority.
Tarar highlighted concerns over the rapid expansion of private law colleges. He called for stronger legal education standards and an effective assessment system for entry into the legal profession.
The minister also noted growing participation by women in the legal profession and described women lawyers as an important part of the legal community.
His remarks come as questions over the respective roles of the FCC and Supreme Court continue to receive attention. Recent proceedings have raised legal questions about the boundaries between the two courts, although Tarar said the constitutional framework itself provides clear jurisdictional boundaries.
