Lahore: Following Supreme Court’s senior judges, Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza of Lahore High Court has resigned. He submitted his resignation to the President of Pakistan. Justice Mirza left his chambers quietly, without formal protocol.
Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza took oath as an additional judge of Lahore High Court on March 22, 2014. He was scheduled to retire in 2028. He is the son of former Supreme Court judge Zia Mahmood Mirza.
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The resignation comes after the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which also prompted resignations from Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah. Their resignations were accepted by the President. Justice Mirza was also a member of the Lahore High Court’s administrative committee.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had stated in his resignation that the amendment undermined judicial independence. He described it as a serious attack on Pakistan’s constitutional democracy. He said remaining in office would mean silent consent to unconstitutional changes.
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Justice Athar Minallah similarly said the oath he took to protect the Constitution no longer holds. He explained that despite trying to convince himself otherwise, he could no longer serve under the new framework. Both resignations signal deep concerns over judicial autonomy and governance.