Constitution 1973 § Article 203C — The Federal Shariat Court

Statutory text (English)

(1) There shall be constituted for the purposes of this Chapter a
Court to be called the Federal Shariat Court.
6[
(2) The Court shall consist of not more than eight Muslim 7[Judges], including the 7[Chief Justice], to
be appointed by the President 8[in accordance with Article 175A].
1[
(3) The Chief Justice shall be a person who is, or has been, or is qualified to be, a Judge of the
Supreme Court or who is or has been a permanent Judge of a High Court 2[or a Judge of the Federal Shariat
Court qualified to be a Judge of the Supreme Court].
(3A) Of the Judges, not more than four shall be persons each one of whom is, or has been, or is
qualified to be, a Judge of a High Court and not more than three shall be Ulema 3[having at least fifteen
years experience in Islamic law, research or instruction].]

(4) The 4[Chief Justice] and a 5[Judge] shall hold office for a period not exceeding three years, but
may be appointed for such further term or terms as the President may determine:

Provided that a Judge of a High Court shall not be appointed to be a 5[Judge] 6[* * * * * *] except
with his consent and 7[, except where the Judge is himself the Chief Justice,] after consultation by the
President with the Chief Justice of the High Court.
8[(4A) The 4[Chief Justice], if he is not a Judge of the Supreme Court, and a 5[Judge] who is not a
Judge of a High Court, may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office.]
9[(4B) The Chief Justice and a Judge shall not be removed from office except in the like manner
and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.]
(4C) 10[* * * * * * *]

(5) 10[* * * * * * *]

(6) The principal seat of the Court shall be at Islamabad, but the Court may from time to time sit in
such other places in Pakistan as the 4[Chief Justice] may, with the approval of the President, appoint.

(7) Before entering upon office, the 4[Chief Justice] and a 5[Judge] shall make before the President
or a person nominated by him oath in the form set out in the Third Schedule.

(8) At any time when the 4[Chief Justice] or a 5[Judge] is absent or is unable to perform the functions
of his office, the President shall appoint another person qualified for the purpose to act as 4[Chief Justice]
or, as the case may be, 5[Judge].
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(9) A Chief Justice who is not a Judge of the Supreme Court shall be entitled to the same
remuneration, allowances and privileges as are admissible to a Judge of the Supreme Court and a Judge
who is not a Judge of a High Court shall be entitled to the same remuneration, allowances and privileges
as are admissible to a Judge of a High Court:

Provided that where a Judge is already drawing a pension for any other post in the service of
Pakistan, the amount of such pension shall be deducted from the pension admissible under this clause.]

Source and verification

Source citation: Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, Art. 203C: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN' (incl. 26th Amdt Act 2024 & 27th Amdt Act 2025), p. 97, 98, ingested 2026-09-15. Automated transcription from official source (pypdf extraction, audited artifact repair); human admin re-check required before production.

Verification status: verified · Text status: auto_transcribed_verified_source

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Official Urdu text status: pending_official_urdu_text. Where official Urdu wording has not been sourced, Qanoon does not substitute an unverified translation for the statutory text.

Historical text notes

1 historical record is linked to this section. Historical wording may be incomplete or pending verification; it is not presented as current law.

• Date not confirmed: Consolidated current text as published in the official Pakistan Code PDF (p. 97, 98) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment…

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