LAHORE – Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court has submitted his resignation in protest against the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment. His resignation follows similar moves by Supreme Court senior judges Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah, who also stepped down citing concerns over judicial independence.
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Justice Shams Mehmood, who took oath as an Additional Judge of the Lahore High Court on March 22, 2014, was due to retire in 2028. He is the son of former Supreme Court judge Justice Zia Mahmood Mirza. Reports suggest that after the 27th Amendment, he was likely to be transferred to another province. He also served as a member of the Lahore High Court’s administrative committee.
The resignations have sparked debate over the impact of the 27th Amendment, which critics argue undermines judicial autonomy by placing the judiciary under increased government control. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah stated that the amendment “has struck a blow to the spirit of our constitutional democracy,” warning that justice for the common citizen is increasingly at risk.
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Justice Athar Minallah echoed these concerns, describing his resignation as a principled stance, noting that the oath he had taken to uphold the Constitution no longer held significance following the amendment. The resignations mark a significant moment of protest from the country’s top judiciary.