FCC reinstates three ATC judges sacked by Sindh government

— The Federal Constitutional Court has accepted an appeal filed by Muhammad Yamin, declaring the Sindh government’s notification of removing anti-terrorism court (ATC) justices from their seats as unlawful and set aside a Sindh High Court verdict that maintained the government’s decision.

The court also set aside the decision of the Sindh High Court dated 22nd December, 2025. The written judgement in the case was authored by Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha.

The written judgement said the new upper age limit of 65 years does not apply to judges appointed for a fixed term before revisions were made to the Anti-Terrorism Act. The court decided that a privilege once legally gained in the past cannot be taken away unless there are clear statutory measures.

Until the conclusion of their terms of office, judges chosen before the amendment would stay in office, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled. It ruled against the retrospective application of the Sindh Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act 2025.

Under the ruling, petitioner Muhammad Yamin would complete his two and half years term as judge Anti-Terrorism Court-IV in Karachi.

Yamin was appointed as the judge of ATC-IV Karachi for two-and-half years on September 19, 2024 under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. He was almost 70 years old when he was appointed. The relevant law at that time, however, did not set a maximum age for appointment as an ATC judge.

Later the Sindh Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act 2025 has fixed a maximum age limit of 65 years for appointment and continuation of judges in service. After the modification, Sindh government issued a notification to relieve three judges including Muhammad Yamin from their posts with immediate effect.

The Sindh High Court affirmed the provincial government’s move. But Yamin’s appeal was accepted by the Federal Constitutional Court, which declared the high court judgement and the notification removing the justices null and void.