Islamabad: After un- ceremonial exit of two judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) as well as a member of Law and Justice Commission , Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza, a Lahore High Court (LHC) judge , has also resigned from his position in protest against controversial 27th amendment in the constitution.
The Sharif government’s decision to introduce 27th amendment in the constitution primarily is aimed at taming the hostile judges. In the first , justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah opted to resign as judges of the apex court of Pakistan to give their reaction to contentious constitutional amendment.
Both Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah had been very vocal judges of Pakistan ‘s top court . Their observations had been a source of trouble sometimes for the government. These judges were mostly seen as persona -non – grata by the government .
Days after the resignations of these two judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Makhdoom Ali Khan , a very senior lawyer , had also resigned as Law and Justice member over the same controversial constitutional amendment.
President Asif Ali Zardari had accepted resignations of both Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) judges who opted to go out of job in protest against what they believed “Diminishing of top judiciary for political reasons”.
The parliament had passed 27th constitutional amendment early this week. It received huge reaction from the opposition. Imran Khan ‘s party –Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) gave tough reaction to the ruling alliance in and outside the parliament.
Meanwhile , some judges also gave sharp reaction to the new constitutional amendment . The outgoing judges had left their lengthy resignations submitted to the president , carrying many reservations over the executives’ plan to undermine Pakistan ‘s top judiciary through 27th constitutional amendment. Although retiring judges sent a wave of shock to the ruling alliance by resigning over the issue, but it remained short-lived . The president’s quick action to accept the resignations of both outgoing judges has sent a very strong signal that anyone who in any case resigns , will be shown the door in no time.
Abrupt action of the president to accept resignations of Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah will serve as a warning to other judges if any one of them is pondering to walk out from his/ her office of the judge in protest against 27th constitutional amendment.
Justice Mirza ‘s resignation over contentious 27th amendment indicates that the storm of anguish and disturbance that the government believed was over is still brewing and it push the government and its facilitators in deep trouble coming days. Justice Mirza ‘s resignation as a LHC judge reminds the government that it may not be so easy for to brush judicial crisis in the wake of 27th amendment under the rug so easily . Justice Mirza ‘s super annuation was due in March 2028.
LHC bar association has lauded justice Mirza’s bold reaction to contentious 27th amendment and called it as a great warning to power hungry rulers of Pakistan.