Two senior Supreme Court judges resigned on Thursday after President Asif Ali Zardari signed the 27th Constitutional Amendment into law, triggering a major crisis in Pakistan’s judiciary.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah submitted their resignations, citing deep concerns about the constitutional changes. Both judges expressed that they could no longer serve under the new judicial framework.
Justice Shah issued a strong statement, describing the amendment as a “grave assault on the Constitution.” He argued that the changes dismantle judicial independence and place the Supreme Court under executive control, fundamentally altering the balance of power in Pakistan’s democratic system.
Justice Minallah’s resignation letter was equally pointed. He stated that the Constitution he had sworn to protect and uphold “is no more,” calling the amendment a betrayal of the judicial oath and public trust. Both judges emphasized they cannot serve in what they view as a diminished court stripped of its constitutional authority.
The resignations have sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s legal community and raised serious questions about the future of judicial independence in the country. Legal experts and bar associations are closely watching how this situation unfolds.
The 27th Amendment has sparked nationwide debate about the separation of powers and the role of judiciary in Pakistan’s governance. Opposition parties have also criticized the changes, while the government defends the amendment as necessary constitutional reform.
