Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan rejects Shariah Petition Challenging Gregorian Calendar Usage in Pakistan

Islamabad 07-05-2024: In a recent legal development, the Full Bench of Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan consisting of Mr. Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rahman Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Khadim Hussain M. Shaikh, Mr. Justice Dr. Syed Muhammad Anwer, Mr. Justice Ameer Muhammad Khan while hearing [Shariat Petition No.01-I OF 2024] has rendered a judgment dismissing a petition that challenged the utilization of the Gregorian calendar in the country. The case, titled Fayyaz Ali Khan Vs. Federation of Pakistan, centered on Article 262 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, which mandates the use of the Gregorian calendar for reckoning periods of time.

The petitioner sought to replace the Gregorian calendar with the Islamic lunar calendar as the official calendar of Pakistan across all governmental records. However, the court, in its ruling, highlighted the constitutional limitations on its jurisdiction. Citing Article 203B (c) of the Constitution, which delineates the scope of laws subject to examination by the court, the judgment elucidated that the Constitution itself falls outside the court's purview for review or amendment. Consequently, the court deemed the petition non-maintainable, as it attempted to challenge an article of the Constitution.

The verdict underscores the imperative of adhering to constitutional provisions and delineates the boundaries of judicial authority in matters concerning the Constitution. This ruling, while addressing the specific case at hand, also reaffirms the primacy of constitutional principles in the legal framework of Pakistan.

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