Constitution 1973 § Article 203E — Powers and procedure of the Court

Statutory text (English)

(1) For the purposes of the performance of its
functions, the Court shall have the powers of a Civil Court trying a suit under the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908), in respect of the following matters, namely:—
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on
oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of any document;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits; and
(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.

(2) The Court shall have power to conduct its proceedings and regulate its procedure in all
respects as it deems fit.

(3) The Court shall have the power of a High Court to punish its own contempt.

(4) A party to any proceedings before the Court under clause

(1) of Article 203D may be
represented by a legal practitioner who is a Muslim and has been enrolled as an advocate of a High
Court for a period of not less than five years or as an advocate of the Supreme Court or by a jurisconsult
selected by the party from out of a panel of jurisconsults maintained by the Court for the purpose.

(5) For being eligible to have his name borne on the panel of jurisconsults referred to in clause

(4), a person shall be an aalim who, in the opinion of the Court, is well-versed in Shariat.

(6) A legal practitioner or jurisconsult representing a party before the Court shall not plead for
the party but shall state, expound and interpret the Injunctions of Islam relevant to the proceedings so
far as may be known to him and submit to the Court a written statement of his interpretation of such
Injunctions of Islam.

(7) The Court may invite any person in Pakistan or abroad whom the Court considers to be
well-versed in Islamic law to appear before it and render such assistance as may be required of him.

(8) No court fee shall be payable in respect of any petition or application made to the Court
under 1[Article 203D].
2[
(9) The Court shall have power to review any decision given or order made by it.]

Source and verification

Source citation: Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, Art. 203E: Pakistan Code portal consolidated official PDF 'THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN' (incl. 26th Amdt Act 2024 & 27th Amdt Act 2025), p. 100, 101, 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. 100, 101) — reflects all amendments recorded in the official footnotes up to ingest date 2026-09-15. Automated transcription; per-amendment…

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