FederalShariatCourt

Q.WritecomprehensivenoteonfederalShariatcourt.(2001A)
Q.DiscusstheJurisdictionandpowersoffederalshariatcourt.(2002A)(2004/A)
1.Intrduction:
Underthepresidentialorderin1980,acourtwasconstitutedwhichwasgivenconstitutionalstatuslater
on.federalshariatcourthasjurisdictiontointroduceIslamicprinciplesinastatuteascontainedin
theinjunctionsofIslam.itcangiveitsopiniontothegov'tconcernedaboutanexistingstatute.

2.RelevantProvisions:
Article203.

3.Composition:
ThefederalshariatcourtconsistsofeightMuslimjudgesincludindtheChiefjustice.theyareappointed
bythepresidentofPakistan.

(a)Object:
Theobjectofestablishmentoffederalshariatcourtistoexamineanddecidequestionsofrepugnancyof
lawtoIslamaslaiddowninholyQuranandSunnah.

4.Qualification:
Outofsevenjudges,fourshouldbepresentorformerjudgesofhighcourt.threeofthejudgesaretobe
expertonIslamiclaw.suchapersonshallbeappointedaschiefjusticewhohasbeeneitherorjudgeof
supremecourtorisapermanentjudgeorhighcourtorisqualifiedtobeappointedasajudgeof
supremecourt.

5.Tenure:
Thechiefjusticeandotherjudgesshallbeappointedforaperiodofthreeyears.
(a)ExtensionofPeriod:
Thepresidentmayextendthetermoftheiroffice.
6.Actingjudge:
Thepresidentmayappointanypersontobethejudgeofshariatcourtincaseofvacantpositioninthe
court.
7.Oathtaking:

Thejudgeshalltakeoathbeforethepresident.
8.Principalseatofthecourt:
TheprincipalseaatofthecourtshallbeatIslamabadbutcourtmaysitinothercities.
9.Salaryandfacilities
Thechiefjustice,incaseheisnotajudgeofthesupremecourt,shallbeentitledtosalary,allowances
andprivilegesasadmissibletothejudgeofsu[remecourt.theotherjudgesoffederalshariatcourtshall
beentitledtosalaryandprivilegesadmissibletoahighcourtjudge.
10.Jurisidictionpowerandfunctionofthesharialcourt:
I.ReviewoflawsagainstIslam:
TheshariatcourtisagainstQuranandSunnahornot.ifcourtfeelsanylawisagainstQuranandSunnah
ornot.ifcourtfeelsanylawisagainsttheIslamitshallgivenoticeconcernedgovernmentandgive
argumentsandshallexplaintowhatextentthelawisrepugnantnoIslamicinjunctions.thecourtshall
makeitsdecisionandpresidentshalltakestepstoamendthelaws.
II.Revisionondecisionsofsubordinatecourt:
Thefederalshariatcourtisauthorizedtoreviewthejudgmentsofcriminal courtunderanylayrelating
totheenforcementofHadood.thefederalshariatiscompetenttosuspendthesentenceandcan
releasetheaccusedonbail.
III.Appellatejurisdiction:
Appealcanbefiledinthesupremecourtagainstthedecisionofthefederalshariatcourtwithinsixty
days.anappealonbehalfofthefederationorofaprovincemaybepreferredwithinsixmonthsofsuch
decision.forthepurposeofAppeal,shariatappellatebenchshallbeconstitutedinthesupremecourt
consistingofthreeMuslimsjudgesofsupremecourtandtwoUlmashallbeappponitedforthisbench.
IV.SuoMotujurisdiction:
Thefederalshariatcourtisempoweredtoexamineanylawunderitssuemotujurisdiction.
V.Miscellaneouspowers:
Thefederalshariatcanexercisethefollowingppowers.
(i)AppearanceofPerson:
Itcanissueordertoanypersontoappearbeforethecourt.
(ii)ProductionofDocuments:

Itcanissueorderfortheproductionofanydocumentbeforeit.
(iii)Framingofrules:
Thefederalshariatcourtcanframetherules fortheconductofitsownproceeding.
(iv)Opinionofanexpert:
ThefederalshariatcanseekopinionofanexpertonIslamlaw.
(v)ContemptofCourt:
Thefederalshariatcourtcansentenceapersononthechargeofcontemptofthecourt.
(vi)Reviseitsownjudgment:
Thefederalshariatcourtisempoweredtoreviseitsownjudgment.
11.Natureofjudgmentoffederalsharitcourt:
Thejudgmentsofthefederalshariatcourtarebindingonthehighcourtsandothercourts.
12.AppealtoSupremecourt:
Anypartyaggrivedwithdecisionofcourt,maypreferanappealtothesuperemecourtwithin60daysof
itsdecision.
13.Conclusion:
ToconcludeIcansaythat;thefederalshariatcourtconsistofeightMuslimjudges.theyareappointed
bythepresident.theprincipalseatofthecourtisatIslamabad.Thecourthaspowertodeclarealaw
repuganttoHolyQuranandSunnah.itcanpunishapersononchargeofcontempt.itshallhavethe
powersofcivilcourtforpurposeofperformanceofitsfunctions.