1[CHAPTER 3A.–_FEDERAL SHARIAT COURT
203A. Provisions of Chapter to override other Provisions of Constitution. The provisions
of this Chapter shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution.
203B. Definitions. In this Chapter, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,__
2[(a) "Chief Justice" means, Chief Justice of the Court;]
(b) "Court" means the Federal Shariat Court constituted in pursuance of Article 203C;
3[(bb) "judge" means judge of the Court;]
(c) "law" includes any custom or usage having the force of law but does not include the
Constitution, Muslim personal law, any law relating to the procedure of any Court or
tribunal or, until the expiration of 4[ten] years from the commencement of this Chapter,
any fiscal law or any law relating to the levy and collection of taxes and fees or banking
or insurance practice and procedure; and
5* * * * * * *
203C. The Federal Shariat Court. (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 8[Chief
Justice], to be appointed by the President 9[in accordance with Article 175A].]
10[(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.
(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 11[having at least
fifteen years experience in Islamic law, research or instruction].]
1 Subs. by the Constitution (Amdt) Order, 1980 (P.O. No. 1 of 1980). Art. 3, for the "existing Chapter 3A" (w.e.f. 26th May, 1980).
2 Subs. by the Constitution (Second Amdt.) Order, 1982 (P. O. No. 5 of 1982), Art. 2. for "paragraph (a)".
3 Ins. ibid.,
4 Subs. by P.O. No. 14 of 1985, Art. 2 and Sch., which was previously amended by various enactments for "five".
5 Paragraph (d) omitted by P. O. No. 5 of 1982, Art. 2.
6 Subs. by the Constitution (Second Amdt.) Order, 1981 (P. O. No. 7 of 1981), Art. 2, for "clause (2)".
7 Subs. by P. O. No. 5 of 1982, Art. 3, for "members".
8 Subs. ibid., for "Chairman".
9 Ins. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 74.
10 Subs. by the Constitution (Third Amdt.) Order 1985 (P. O. No. 24 of 1985), Art. 4, for "clause(3)".
11 Subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), s. 74, for certain words.
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