CJP Afridi Clarifies Coordinate Jurisdiction Between SC and FCC

Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has formally clarified that the Supreme Court and the Federal Constitutional Court operate as coordinate courts, each exercising clearly demarcated and non-overlapping jurisdictions under the constitutional framework. The statement is significant in the context of ongoing debates over institutional competence and the distribution of judicial authority between the two apex bodies.

The CJP's remarks appear intended to resolve ambiguity that has surrounded the dual court structure since the FCC's establishment, with litigants, lawyers, and lower courts at times uncertain about which forum holds jurisdiction over specific constitutional questions. Justice Afridi stressed that both courts are equal in institutional standing and that neither is subordinate to the other.

Legal observers noted the statement carries weight in settling procedural confusion that has occasionally led to conflicting filings and jurisdictional disputes. The clarification is expected to guide bench formations, case referrals, and the routing of constitutional petitions going forward.

The CJP's public articulation of the coordinate court principle signals an effort by the judicial leadership to stabilise the country's restructured apex court architecture and reassure the legal community that the dual system functions within a coherent constitutional design.