ISLAMABAD: In a striking statement on Tuesday, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani declared that all state institutions, including the executive, parliament, and judiciary, have collapsed. He noted that the judiciary, a fundamental pillar of the state, currently exists in a state of "limbo."
Justice Kayani's comments came while hearing a petition from candidates seeking to prevent the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) from holding new Central Superior Services (CSS) exams until the results of the previous exam were announced. He criticized the state of governance, which has been marked by significant changes introduced through the 26th Constitutional Amendment, passed by the PML-N-led coalition government last year. This amendment, aimed at reforming the judicial system, altered the process for appointing the Chief Justice of Pakistan and revamped the composition of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), granting more power to the executive in the selection of judges. These measures, including the formation of constitutional benches and an increase in the number of judges in the top court, have been criticized by many as attempts to exert control over the judiciary.
Despite his criticisms of the state of the judiciary, Justice Kayani expressed hope for the future, stating, "We are not despondent... it is the youth that is going to do something for this country."
During the hearing, FPSC Chairman Lt General (retd) Akhtar Nawaz Satti, who took office in October 2024, argued that delaying the exams would not be feasible as the commission had already booked 88 exam halls and dispatched all relevant papers for the 2025 exams. He assured the court that the results of the 2024 exams would be announced by the last week of April.
The court ultimately dismissed the petition, acknowledging that delaying the exams could create logistical and confidentiality issues. It also noted that the FPSC had the legal authority to proceed with the exams as scheduled, which are set to begin on February 15.
