Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza quits as LHC judge

LAHORE: Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza has resigned from the Lahore High Court (LHC), stating that as a “matter of principle” he is not inclined to continue following the 27th Amendment.

“After the Twenty-Seventh amendment in the Constitution, I am not inclined as a matter of principle and in good conscience to continue as a Judge. I hereby tender my resignation as Judge of the Lahore High Court,” Justice Shams said in his resignation letter to the President. The judge was ranked fifth in seniority at the LHC and also served as a member of its administration committee. Appointed as an additional judge in 2014, Justice Mirza’s superannuation was scheduled for March 6, 2028. His resignation comes just a couple of days after the National Assembly passed the 27th Constitutional Amendment, making changes to the judicial structure and military command. The latest move follows the resignations of Supreme Court judges Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah, who had issued letters strongly criticising the 27th Amendment.