Overview
- Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah submitted their resignations on Thursday, saying the constitutional change undermines judicial independence.
- Justice Shah had earlier written two letters to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi warning the amendment weakened the court, divided the judiciary, and placed it under government control.
- Both judges framed their departures as a defense of the Constitution and the separation of powers.
- The 27th Amendment was passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Asif Ali Zardari prior to the resignations.
- The Supreme Court and the government had not issued public responses, and analysts cited in reports said the resignations are likely to intensify debate over the amendment’s political impact.