Federal Constitutional Court Staff Pay, Perks Surpass Supreme Court's Amid Supremacy Row

A significant financial disparity has emerged between Pakistan's newly formed Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and the long-standing Supreme Court (SC), with FCC staff and officers receiving substantially higher emoluments. This development occurs against the backdrop of an escalating constitutional debate concerning the respective authorities of the two apex courts, particularly after the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The Supreme Court, in a recent judgment authored by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, asserted its co-equal status with the FCC, interpreting the amendment as establishing two distinct, independent judicial bodies rather than a hierarchical structure. This ruling directly challenges several FCC judgments that claimed exclusive constitutional adjudication authority post-amendment. The FCC has maintained that the SC no longer holds the power to interpret the Constitution, a stance that appears to be mirrored in the generous financial packages being offered to its employees. Notifications reveal that FCC employees, from lower grades to senior officers, are receiving extensive benefits, including substantial allowances that effectively double their basic pay. This includes a special judicial allowance equivalent to three times the basic pay and significant transport monetization for senior officers, far exceeding what SC officers receive. This growing financial privilege extended to the FCC raises pertinent questions about resource allocation and the underlying constitutional interpretations driving these decisions, especially as the nation grapples with defining the precise boundaries of judicial power.