Justices Mansoor, Athar Minallah resign over 27th Amendment concerns, deepen crisis in Pakistan’s Supreme Court
Two senior Supreme Court judges, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, have resigned from their positions, expressing strong reservations over the 27th Constitutional Amendment. Their resignations have triggered a major debate about the independence of Pakistan’s judiciary.
According to sources, the President of Pakistan has already received Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s six-page resignation letter. Both judges have vacated their chambers. In his letter, Justice Shah described the 27th Amendment as “an attack on the Constitution” and “a serious blow to the Supreme Court.” He said the amendment has made justice distant from ordinary citizens and weakened the powerless before authority.
Justice Shah stated that his conscience is clear and that he served the institution with honesty and dignity. His resignation as a senior Supreme Court judge marks a turning point for the judiciary.
Legal experts are now questioning whether any political or judicial pressure led to the resignations. Reports suggest that Justice Ameenuddin Khan is the strongest candidate to become the next head of the constitutional bench. Chief Justice Yahya Afridi hosted a dinner in his honor last night, signaling a possible new chapter for the Supreme Court as Justice Ameenuddin Khan’s swearing-in approaches.
