Pakistan’s judicial turmoil escalated further as another senior judge resigned in protest against the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which restructures the judiciary by creating a powerful new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and reducing the Supreme Court’s authority. The move has triggered intense criticism from judges, legal bodies, and civil society, who argue that the amendment fatally undermines judicial independence.
Lahore High Court Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza became the latest judge to step down, making him the first high court judge to resign after the amendment was enacted. His resignation follows those of Supreme Court Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah, who quit just hours after President Asif Ali Zardari signed the amendment into law. Justice Mirza, due to retire in 2028, is also related to PTI leader Advocate Salman Akram Raja, adding a political dimension to the uproar.
The amendment dramatically alters Pakistan’s judicial architecture. It establishes the Federal Constitutional Court as the exclusive forum for constitutional interpretation, stripping the Supreme Court of its long-standing role as the final arbiter on constitutional matters. Under the revised structure, the Supreme Court will be limited to civil and criminal cases, while the FCC’s rulings will bind all courts, including the Supreme Court itself. The resigning judges have argued that this change effectively dethrones the Supreme Court and places the judiciary under increased executive influence.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah described the amendment as a “grave assault on the Constitution,” asserting that it dismantles the Supreme Court’s authority and compromises the separation of powers. Justice Minallah echoed these concerns, saying the amendment shatters the constitutional order he had sworn to protect. Their resignations have added weight to the concerns of legal experts who warn that the changes strike at the core of Pakistan’s democratic system.
The 27th Amendment also carries significant implications for the military leadership. It enables Army Chief General Asim Munir to remain in service until 2030 as the Chief of Defence Forces, a structural shift critics say further centralises power within the executive and military establishment.
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has issued a strong condemnation, calling the amendment a “flagrant attack” on judicial independence and warning that it violates foundational principles of constitutional governance.
As the political and legal fallout grows, Pakistan now faces one of its most serious institutional crises in decades, with the future balance of power between the judiciary, executive, and military now deeply contested.
