President Zardari accepts resignations of SC judges Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah, as confirmed by an official post on the President’s X account on Friday. This major judicial development follows the intense controversy surrounding the implementation of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The two senior Supreme Court judges tendered their resignations just hours after President Asif Ali Zardari signed the highly contentious legislation into law. Both justices characterized the amendment as a fundamental assault on the independence of the judiciary and the integrity of the 1973 Constitution.
Opposition to the 27th Constitutional Amendment
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, in a detailed 13-page resignation letter addressed to the president, officially described the legislation as a “grave assault on the Constitution.” His letter, issued in both English and Urdu, outlined his decision based on loyalty to his judicial oath.
Justice Shah further argued that the new law effectively dismantled the Supreme Court of Pakistan and subjugated the judiciary to executive control. He stated that the amendment struck at the “very heart of our constitutional democracy,” making justice “more distant, more fragile and more vulnerable to power.”
Justice Athar Minallah also expressed profound dismay in his resignation. He regretted that the Constitution he had sworn to uphold and defend “is no more.” The esteemed judge found it impossible “to pretend that as new foundations are now laid, they rest upon anything other than its grave,” a profound statement on his legal principles. For more judicial updates and analysis, visit SindhNews.com.
Ahead of the resignations, both judges had formally written to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi. They requested a full court meeting specifically to deliberate on the potentially devastating implications of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Political Reactions to the Supreme Court Judges’ Resignations
While the constitutional crisis deepened, a Supreme Court press release later confirmed that the full court meeting led by CJP Afridi gave final approval to the SC Rules, 2025. However, the release explicitly mentioned there was no discussion concerning the 27th Amendment.
The decision by these Supreme Court judges’ resignations drew swift criticism from political circles. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif publicly weighed in on the matter, suggesting the timing of their departure was questionable. He commented that their “consciences only awakened after their monopoly was curtailed.”
Conclusion
The acceptance of these resignations means two critical and highly experienced positions on the highest court now stand vacant. This outcome underscores the severe constitutional and political pressures defining the judiciary’s role following the passage of the 27th Amendment. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing struggle over judicial autonomy and the structural independence of Pakistan’s highest courts.