ISLAMABAD, May 9 — A growing financial disparity has emerged between the newly established Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and the Supreme Court (SC), with FCC staff now receiving significantly higher salaries and allowances. Recent notifications reveal that FCC employees across all grades are receiving utility and judicial allowances that effectively double their basic pay, alongside transport monetization rates that far exceed those at the SC. This development coincides with an intensifying legal battle over the 27th Constitutional Amendment, as both apex courts continue to issue conflicting judgments regarding their respective authority and jurisdictional supremacy.
Quick Facts
- FCC employees receive judicial and utility allowances fixed at 50% each of their running basic pay.
- Special judicial allowances for FCC staff have been approved at three times the basic pay rate.
- Transport monetization for FCC officers (BPS-17 to 22) ranges from Rs60,000 to Rs250,000.
- The pay gap between FCC and SC employees has reached up to Rs300,000 in specific senior cases.
- More than 25 high-level administrative posts were recently created within the FCC’s expanded structure.
- The Supreme Court recently ruled it is not subordinate to the FCC, despite the 27th Amendment.
Official notifications issued by the FCC reveal an extensive package of salaries, allowances and financial incentives for employees ranging from lower-grade staff to senior officers.https://t.co/YKAOTlbSmH
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) May 9, 2026
Unprecedented Financial Privileges
The salary structure of the FCC has positioned its staff among the most highly compensated public sector employees in Pakistan. By approving a special judicial allowance equivalent to three times the basic pay, the court has significantly elevated the monthly take-home pay for grades BPS-2 through BPS-22. Furthermore, the transport monetization package for senior FCC officers is nearly triple that of their counterparts in the Supreme Court, where the maximum allowance for a BPS-22 officer is capped at Rs95,000 compared to the FCC’s Rs250,000.
The Supremacy Dispute
This surge in administrative spending occurs against the backdrop of a “supremacy row” triggered by the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The FCC asserts that it holds exclusive domain over constitutional interpretation, while a recent judgment authored by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi maintains that the SC and FCC are co-equal institutions. The SC’s stance is that the new framework creates a dual-apex system rather than a hierarchy, a view that contradicts FCC rulings claiming its decisions are binding on all other judicial bodies.
Administrative Expansion
Beyond salary hikes, the FCC has moved rapidly to expand its administrative footprint, creating dozens of new positions, including a Registrar, six Additional Registrars, and a Secretary to the FCC Chief Justice. These roles carry special pay scales that deviate from standard government regulations. While these expenditures are currently being met through the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, legal experts have raised concerns regarding the long-term fiscal sustainability of maintaining such a high-cost judicial institution alongside the existing Supreme Court.
Transparency and Sustainability Concerns
While the FCC justifies these perks as necessary for a high-functioning constitutional body, the lack of public detail regarding the total financial implications has sparked debate. Critics argue that the widening compensation gap may create resentment within the broader judiciary and civil service. As the two courts remain deadlocked over their legal standing, the stark difference in their financial resources adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing institutional transition.
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