Lahore: Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court has resigned from his position, becoming the first judge from the provincial judiciary to step down in protest following the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
His resignation comes just two days after Supreme Court judges Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah submitted their resignations, citing concerns over the amendment’s impact on judicial independence.
Justice Mirza sent his resignation to the President of Pakistan and vacated his chamber shortly afterward. Reports suggest that he was likely to be transferred following the amendment, which has sparked widespread debate over its implications for the judiciary.
Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza was a member of the Administrative Committee of the Lahore High Court and had taken oath as an additional judge on March 22, 2014. He was scheduled to retire in 2028.
He is the son of former Supreme Court judge Justice Zia Mehmood Mirza. Earlier this year, a reference had been filed against him in the Supreme Judicial Council by the public prosecutor.
In his resignation letter, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had described the 27th Constitutional Amendment as a serious attack on the Constitution, stating that it had “torn the Supreme Court of Pakistan to pieces.” He emphasized that he had served with honor and integrity and had no regrets in stepping down.
The resignations have intensified the debate around judicial autonomy and the future of constitutional governance in Pakistan.