ISLAMABAD: Two senior judges of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, have resigned from their positions, citing deep concerns over the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah submitted a 13-page resignation letter to the President of Pakistan, in which he expressed vehement objections to the amendment, which he described as a “grave assault” on the Constitution of Pakistan and a direct challenge to judicial independence.
Justice Shah’s letter articulates his strong belief that the 27th Amendment has fractured the Supreme Court and undermined its autonomy by subordinating it to the executive branch of government. He argued that the amendment effectively dismantled the constitutional framework by diminishing the judiciary’s role as an independent check on executive power. In his view, this amendment represents a profound blow to Pakistan’s constitutional democracy, eroding the very principles upon which the nation’s legal system is built.
Further detailing his concerns, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah stated that the 27th Amendment not only encroached on judicial independence but also undermined the separation of powers, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s constitutional design.
He pointed out that, despite raising these issues through two formal letters to Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, no meaningful action had been taken, which prompted him to submit his resignation.
The 27th Constitutional Amendment, which has sparked widespread controversy and debate, proposes significant changes to the structure and functioning of the judiciary, particularly the powers of the Supreme Court.
