Lahore High Court Judge Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza has submitted his resignation from the judiciary, according to official sources. The judge cited personal reasons for his decision to step down from his position.
Justice Mirza delivered his handwritten resignation directly to President Asif Ali Zardari, requesting immediate acceptance of his departure from the court. The judge held fifth position on the Lahore High Court’s seniority list and was scheduled to serve until 2028 before his unexpected resignation.
This development continues a pattern of judicial resignations that began earlier this week. Two senior Supreme Court judges, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, previously submitted their resignations to President Zardari.
Justice Mirza’s departure represents the third high-profile judicial resignation within a short timeframe. These consecutive resignations have generated significant discussion about the stability of Pakistan’s judicial system.
Detailed Criticism of Constitutional Amendment
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s comprehensive seven-page resignation document provided substantial criticism of the 27th Constitutional Amendment. The senior judge characterised the legislation as a severe challenge to Pakistan’s constitutional framework.
🚨🚨#BREAKING: #Lahore high court’s #JusticeShamsMehmoodMirza resigned, he was number 5 in seniority list. pic.twitter.com/VYQb7eUpHL
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) November 15, 2025In his resignation, Justice Shah expressed concern that justice has become less accessible to ordinary citizens following the implementation of the amendment. He argued that vulnerable populations have become increasingly powerless against influential entities due to the constitutional changes.
The resigned justice highlighted fundamental alterations to Pakistan’s judicial structure resulting from the amendment. He noted that the legislation has effectively divided the country’s highest court while establishing a constitutional court above the Supreme Court.
Read: What Changes Did the National Assembly Make to the Senate-Approved 27th Amendment?
Justice Shah described this restructuring as dismantling Pakistan’s traditional unified Supreme Court system. He characterised the single Supreme Court as a shared national heritage that has been fundamentally transformed by the recent amendment.
The resignation document raised significant concerns about the parliamentary process surrounding the approval of the amendment. Justice Shah noted the absence of proper consultation, debate, or judicial input during the legislative process.
