Two senior Supreme Court judges resign following 27th Constitutional Amendment

Two senior judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, have resigned from their posts, citing serious concerns over the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which they described as an attack on the independence of the judiciary, Aaj New reported.

Both judges have formally submitted their resignations to the President of Pakistan and vacated their chambers at the Supreme Court, Aaj News reported quoting sources.

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Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s resignation runs 13 pages long, detailing the reasons behind his decision. In his letter, he stated that the 27th Amendment represents a “grave assault on the Constitution of Pakistan,” effectively placing the judiciary under executive control.

He wrote that the amendment “struck at the very soul of constitutional democracy” and lamented that “justice has become increasingly inaccessible to the common citizen.”

“I have served the institution with dignity and integrity. I resign from the office of Senior Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan, with a clear conscience and no regrets,” Justice Shah noted in his resignation letter.

Justice Athar Minallah’s resignation spans seven pages. In it, he declared that “the Constitution I had sworn to protect no longer remains intact.”

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Both judges had also written letters to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi prior to submitting their resignations.

Their departure marks a significant moment in Pakistan’s judicial history, coming amid heightened debate over judicial independence and constitutional reforms.