ISLAMABAD (WNAM REPORT): The senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah, have tendered their resignations following the approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment by Parliament.
In his 13-page resignation letter, Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah stated that the 27th Constitutional Amendment is a serious attack on the Constitution of Pakistan. He further remarked that the amendment has fragmented the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
“The Twenty-Seventh Constitutional Amendment stands as a grave assault on the Constitution of Pakistan. It dismantles the Supreme Court of Pakistan, subjugates the judiciary to executive control, and strikes at the very heart of our constitutional democracy- making justice more distant, more fragile, and more vulnerable to power,” Justice Mansoor stated in his resignation.
“I am unable to uphold my oath sitting inside a court that has been deprived of its constitutional role; resignation therefore becomes the only honest and effective expression of honouring my oath. Continuing in such a version of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, would only suggest that I bartered my oath for titles, salaries, or privileges,” reads Justice Mansoor’s resignation letter.
He further mentioned, “Accordingly, for the reasons set out hereunder, and in terms of Article 206(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, I hereby resign from the office of Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, with immediate effect.”
Meanwhile, Justice Athar Minallah in his resignation letter stated that, “It has been my greatest honor and privilege to serve the people of Pakistan as part of its judiciary, and I have, to the best of my ability, endeavored to discharge my duties in accordance with my oath. Today, it is that very same oath that compels me to tender my formal resignation,” reads the Athar Minallah resignation.
“The Constitution that I swore an oath to uphold and defend is no more. Much as I have tried to convince myself otherwise, I can think of no greater assault on its memory than to pretend that, as new foundations are now laid, they rest upon anything other than its grave. For, what is left of it is a mere shadow – one that breathes neither its spirit, nor speaks the words of the people to whom it belongs,” it adds.
