Constitution 1973 § Article 203D — Powers, jurisdiction and functions of the Court

Statutory text (English)

(1) The Court may, 1[either of its
own motion or] on the petition of a citizen of Pakistan or the Federal Government or a Provincial
Government, examine and decide the question whether or not any law or provision of law is repugnant
to the Injunctions of Islam, as laid down in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet,
hereinafter referred to as the Injunctions of Islam.
2[(1A) Where the Court takes up the examination of any law or provision of law under clause

(1) and such law or provision of law appears to it to be repugnant to the Injunctions of Islam, the Court
shall cause to be given to the Federal Government in the case of a law with respect to a matter in the
Federal Legislative List 3[* * * * *] or to the Provincial Government in the case of a law with respect
to a matter not enumerated 4[in the Federal Legislative List], a notice specifying the particular
provisions that appear to it to be so repugnant, and afford to such Government adequate opportunity
to have its point of view placed before the Court.]

(2) If the Court decides that any law or provision of law is repugnant to the Injunctions of
Islam, it shall set out in its decision:—
(a) the reasons for its holding that opinion; and
(b) the extent to which such law or provision is so repugnant;
and specify the day on which the decision shall take effect 5[:]
6[
Provided that no such decision shall be deemed to take effect before the expiration of the
period within which an appeal therefrom may be preferred to the Supreme Court or, where an appeal
has been so preferred, before the disposal of such appeal 7[:]]
7[
Provided further that appeal against decision given after the commencement of the
Constitution (Twenty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2024 (XXVI of 2024) shall be disposed of within twelve
months whereafter the decision shall take effect unless suspended by the Supreme Court.]

(3) If any law or provision of law is held by the Court to be repugnant to the Injunctions of
Islam,—
(a) the President in the case of a law with respect to a matter in the Federal
Legislative List 3[* * *] or the Governor in the case of a law with respect to a
matter not enumerated in 4[said List] shall take steps to amend the law so as to
bring such law or provision into conformity with the Injunctions of Islam; and
(b) such law or provision shall, to the extent to which it is held to be so repugnant,
cease to have effect on the day on which the decision of the Court takes effect.
8[* * * * * * *]

Source and verification

Source citation: Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, Art. 203D: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN' (incl. 26th Amdt Act 2024 & 27th Amdt Act 2025), p. 99, 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

The record cites an official source, but its transcription is automated or only partly checked; a human re-check is pending.

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. 99) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment version…

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