Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza Resigns After 27th Amendment Sparks Judicial Crisis has sent a fresh wave of shock through Pakistan’s already unsettled judicial landscape. Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza Resigns After 27th Amendment Sparks Judicial Crisis became the first major high court exit since the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment became law, raising deeper questions about judicial autonomy and the mounting pressure on judges across the country.
Family sources confirmed that Justice Mirza stepped down on Saturday, stating in his resignation letter that he could no longer continue in good conscience after the sweeping constitutional changes. His departure is especially symbolic. He joined the Lahore High Court in March 2014 and was set to retire in 2028. He is the son of the late Justice Zia Mehmood Mirza, remembered for his bold dissent against the dismissal of Benazir Bhutto’s government in 1996. Justice Mirza also has political linkage through PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, who is his brother in law.
According to reports, his resignation came just forty eight hours after the 27th Amendment was enacted, a move heavily criticised for weakening judicial independence. The International Commission of Jurists labelled the amendment a direct attack on the judiciary, echoing the concerns raised by Supreme Court Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah, both of whom resigned earlier in protest with strongly worded letters.
Legal experts warn that the amendment represents a drastic restructuring of Pakistan’s judicial power. It hands the Judicial Commission of Pakistan authority to transfer high court judges without consent and establishes the Federal Constitutional Court, which will take over key constitutional matters. The FCC’s verdicts will bind all courts, including the Supreme Court, effectively reducing the SC’s role in constitutional interpretation.
The impact is already visible across the judiciary. Islamabad High Court Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Saman Rafat Imtiaz have indicated they may not be available to hear cases in the federal capital starting next month, signalling widening unease.
Justice Mirza’s resignation captures the anxiety gripping Pakistan’s courts as judges confront unprecedented constitutional changes. His exit underscores fears that judicial independence is entering a turbulent, uncertain chapter.