In his 13-page resignation letter, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah described the amendment as a “serious attack on the Constitution of Pakistan,” adding that it had “fragmented the Supreme Court of Pakistan.”
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has called a full court session on Friday to deliberate on the amendment, which was passed in the Senate with a two-thirds majority of 64 votes. Sources told The Express Tribune that the session is scheduled before Friday prayers.
The move follows repeated appeals from Supreme Court justices, bar associations, and senior lawyers urging the top court to review the controversial legislation. President Asif Ali Zardari signed the 27th Amendment Bill into law after it was approved by both houses of Parliament, making it part of the Constitution.
The Senate passed the bill after a second round of voting on Thursday, despite opposition protests. The 56-clause legislation had already cleared the National Assembly a day earlier.
Under the new law, a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has been created with authority over constitutional matters, effectively placing the Supreme Court under its oversight. Justice Yahya Afridi has been designated as the Chief Justice of Pakistan under this structure.
The amendment has triggered widespread concern among the judiciary and legal fraternity, with critics warning that it compromises the Supreme Court’s independence. The development has led to petitions from senior lawyers, letters from judges, and protests by bar councils across the country.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had earlier urged Chief Justice Afridi to hold consultations with the executive over the proposed amendment, while Justice Athar Minallah suggested convening a judicial convention. Retired judges and lawyers made similar requests, but no full court meeting was formally held on the matter.
