• Law ministry notified FCC’s relocation a month ago
• Shariat court to move to IHC building
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) is set to finally begin hearing cases from Monday, operating from its originally envisaged premises — the Federal Shariat Court (FSC).
Although extensive renovation and refurbishment work is still under way at the FSC building, an informed source privy to the development told Dawn that the FCC is likely to commence functioning from January 12.
On December 11, 2025, the Ministry of law had issued a notification proposing the temporary relocation of the FCC to the FSC premises, while the Federal Shariat Court was to be shifted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) building.
In addition, the FCC is seriously considering the establishment of registry branches in all four provinces to facilitate the filing of cases and appeals by litigants closer to their homes. However, the establishment of branch registries requires a presidential order, which is also expected to be issued soon.
If set up, these branch registries would help ease the difficulties currently faced by litigants, who are compelled to travel to Islamabad, where only a small space has been allocated for filing FCC petitions within the IHC building.
Under the proposed arrangement, cases could temporarily be filed at FCC branch registries operating from the existing premises of the Supreme Court in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta.
Recently, 22,910 cases were transferred from the Supreme Court to the FCC and are currently housed within the IHC. Due to severe space constraints, the files have been cramped into small areas, making it extremely difficult to locate case records or obtain certified copies of judgements.
“I filed a petition before the FCC sometimes ago, but notices to the respondents have still not been served due to a lack of manpower and an effective mechanism,” a senior lawyer told Dawn on condition of anonymity.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment was passed by parliament within days, but the government has yet to determine how and where to properly house the FCC — now considered the country’s apex court following the amendment, the lawyer said.
The source added that while more judges will be elevated to the FCC in due course, establishing the court’s infrastructure remains the immediate priority.
A meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan scheduled for January 12 may also take up the formulation of rules for appointing FCC judges. After the court’s relocation, the next step would likely involve developing facilities for video-link hearings, enabling lawyers to argue cases from branch registries — a practice already in use at the Supreme Court.
The FSC building currently houses seven courtrooms along with seven chambers for judges. The FCC presently has seven judges, with plans to gradually increase its strength to 13.
According to the source, the establishment of additional courtrooms should not pose major difficulties, as office spaces within the building can be merged to create smaller courtrooms if required.
In November last year, the government had decided to set up offices for FCC judges within the IHC building due to space constraints, after FSC judges reportedly declined to vacate their building in favour of the newly established constitutional court.
As a result, the FCC was temporarily housed in the IHC building shortly after the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2026
