Article 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.

2. The Court shall consist of not more than eight Muslim Judges, including the Chief Justice, to be appointed by the President 130[in accordance with Article 175A.

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 having at least fifteen years experience in Islamic law, research or instruction.

4. The Chief Justice and a Judge shall hold office for a period not exceeding three years, but may be appointed for such further term or terms as the President may determine:

Provided that a Judge of a High Court shall not be appointed to be a Judge 132[**] except with his consent and except where the Judge is, himself the Chief Justice, after consultation by the President with the Chief Justice of the High Court.

4A. The Chief Justice, if he is not a Judge of the Supreme Court, and a Judge who is not a Judge of a High Court, may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office.

4B. The Chief Justice and a Judge shall not be removed from office except in the like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

4C. 134[***]

5. 135[****]

6. The Principal seat of the Court shall be at Islamabad, but Court may from time to time sit in such other places in Pakistan as the Chief Justice may, with the approval of the President, appoint.

7. Before entering upon office, the Chief Justice and a Judge shall make before the President or a person nominated by him oath in the form set out in the Third Schedule.

8. At any time when the Chief Justice or a Judge is absent or is unable to perform the functions of his office, the President shall appoint another person qualified for the purpose to act as Chief Justice or, as the case may be, Judge.

9. A Chief Justice who is not a Judge of the Supreme Court shall be entitled to the same remuneration, allowances and privileges as are admissible to a Judge of the Supreme Court and a Judge who is not a Judge
of a High Court shall be entitled to the same remuneration, allowances and privileges as are admissible to a Judge of a High Court:

Provided that where a Judge is already drawing a pension for any other post in the service of Pakistan, the amount of such pension shall be deducted from the pension admissible under this clause.]