Constitutional & Supreme Court Litigation
Appeals and petitions before the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the newly established Federal Constitutional Court. Irfan Mir Halepota & Associates represents clients in this area before the relevant Karachi courts and tribunals.
Pakistan's apex judiciary was significantly restructured by the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments, culminating in the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) in November 2025. The FCC now holds exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional interpretation, enforcement of fundamental rights, and disputes between federal and provincial governments — matters that previously sat with the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which continues as the apex court for ordinary civil and criminal appeals. This is a genuinely new and still-developing area of practice, and we advise clients on which forum a matter now belongs in before anything else.
What this covers
- Civil and criminal appeals before the Supreme Court of Pakistan
- Constitutional petitions and fundamental rights matters before the Federal Constitutional Court
- Appeals from High Court constitutional benches to the Federal Constitutional Court
- Federal-provincial and inter-governmental disputes
- Leave to appeal petitions
- Review and curative petitions
Where we appear
- Supreme Court of Pakistan (civil & criminal appellate jurisdiction)
- Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan (constitutional interpretation & fundamental rights)
- High Court of Sindh (Constitutional Bench, first instance)
Forum selection and limitation periods are often decided in the first conversation about a matter — the earlier we're involved, the more options remain open.
Common questions
What's the difference between the Supreme Court and the new Federal Constitutional Court?
Following the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments, the Federal Constitutional Court — established in November 2025 — now holds exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional interpretation, fundamental rights enforcement, and federal-provincial disputes, along with appeals from the constitutional benches of the High Courts. The Supreme Court of Pakistan remains the apex court for ordinary civil and criminal appeals. Because this restructuring is recent, we assess which forum a specific matter now belongs in individually rather than assuming the pre-2025 position still applies.
My matter was pending before the Supreme Court and involved a constitutional question — what happens to it now?
Under the amendments' transitional provisions, pending matters falling within the Federal Constitutional Court's jurisdiction are being transferred to it. We can check the current status of a specific matter and advise on what a transfer means for its timeline.
Related areas of practice
- Civil LitigationContract, commercial and property disputes carried from plaint to appeal.→
- Criminal LitigationRepresentation from the first FIR through trial, bail and appeal.→
- Corporate & Commercial LawFormation, governance, contracts and disputes for companies operating in Pakistan.→
- Family LawCourt marriage, divorce and khulla, custody, guardianship and maintenance.→
Speak with an advocate about constitutional & supreme court litigation
Tell us the facts of your matter and we'll advise on forum, timeline and next steps before you commit to anything.
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