Islamabad: Two senior judges of supreme court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah laid their resignations from the supreme court today following the 27th constitutional Amendment. Plans for Justice Mansoor Ali Shah to become Chief Justice of Pakistan have been altered following revisions to the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Although he is the senior-most judge in the country, the amendment now ensures that Chief Justice Yahya Afridi will remain in office until 2027, delaying any potential succession.
Five page resignation letter of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah resigned, citing serious threats to the independence of the judiciary and the erosion of constitutional democracy. He said the recent constitutional amendment “has fragmented the Supreme Court” and placed the judiciary under the control of the government, undermining the spirit of constitutional democracy, leaving ordinary citizens without access to justice and rendering the weak powerless in the face of authority.
He warned that the amendment “trampled the independence of the judiciary” and set the country back decades. Justice Shah added, “I leave with a clear conscience and no regrets,” and referenced Ahmad Faraz’s verses, saying, “My pen is a trust for my people. I have served the institution with honesty and integrity.” He emphasized that judges must defend the constitution instead of operating under political directives and noted that political actions have eroded the principles he swore to uphold, signaling a critical moment in Pakistan’s legal and political landscape.
Amendment Changes Impact Leadership
Initially, if the first draft of the 27th Amendment had passed through both the cabinet and Senate and then sailed through the National Assembly, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah could have assumed the position of Chief Justice of Pakistan. However, subsequent revisions by the government confirmed that Justice Yahya Afridi will serve as CJP until his retirement in October 2027.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s Federal Role
Officials note that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s elevation to head of the Federal Constitutional Court, which preceded these changes, positioned him prominently in the judiciary. However, the 27th Amendment now prevents any other judge from becoming CJP before October 2027, effectively freezing the line of succession for the next four years.
Race for Chief Justice Remains Uncertain
As a result, the potential leadership changes within Pakistan’s Supreme Court have been postponed. Legal analysts say this development reshapes expectations in the judiciary, and attention will now shift to who might emerge as the next contender once CJP Yahya Afridi retires.
Meanwhile, observers continue to watch the evolving dynamics within Pakistan’s judiciary and the political maneuvers surrounding constitutional amendments.
