Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan on Thursday heard petitions filed against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Control of Narcotics Substances Act, 2019, with the federal government seeking to have the provincial law struck down.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Kareem Khan Agha conducted the proceedings.
During the hearing, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government questioned the court’s jurisdiction.
Barrister Ali Zafar, representing the provincial government, argued that the Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan cannot directly hear challenges to provincial legislation, and that the appropriate forum for such matters is the high court.
Conversely, counsel for the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) argued that Articles 137, 90, and 97 of the Constitution clearly define the powers of the federal government. He submitted that the dispute in this case is not between two assemblies but between two governments.
The Additional Attorney General informed the court that it indeed had jurisdiction to hear the matter. After hearing the arguments, the Federal Constitutional Court adjourned further proceedings until January 21.