In what could be called as shocking development, Justice Ijazul Ahsan of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday tendered his resignation, stepping down from his judicial duties. According to sources, Justice Ahsan has submitted his written resignation to President Dr Arif Alvi. He was slated to become the next chief justice of Pakistan following incumbent CJP Qazi Faez Isa’s retirement in October this year.
“I have had the honour and privilege of serving as a Judge of the Lahore High Court, the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court and a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” Justice Ahsan wrote in his resignation. The top judge said that he no longer wished to continue as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
“Therefore, I, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, resign as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in terms of Article 206(1) of the Constitution with immediate effect,” he further said. The development comes a day after Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi – who faces charges of misconduct -resigned as a judge of the Supreme Court, saying it was no longer possible for him to continue holding this position.
Justice Ahsan had called for the withdrawal of the show cause notice issued to Justice Naqvi on November 22. The senior judge issued his 4-page opinion highlighting the reasons why he disagreed with the majority verdict to issue show cause notices to Naqvi. “Before I set out my reasons, I wish to say something about the manner in which these [SJC] proceedings are being conducted. Unfortunately, in my opinion, proceedings are being conducted in undue haste contrary to established norms,” he said.
Justice Ahsan also said the SJC proceedings on November 22, 2023, when it issued the second notice to Justice Naqvi, were completely devoid of any discussion or deliberation whatsoever. This manner of proceedings, he said, has cast an unwelcome doubt over the whole process. “I, therefore, disagree with the process followed and the manner in which the proceedings are being conducted,” he added. In June 2016, Justice Ahsan assumed the role of a Supreme Court judge. Currently, he was number three on seniority list.
Following his resignation, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is poised to ascend to the position of chief justice later this year, as he has become the senior most SC judge. Earlier in the day, Justice Ahsan had recused himself from attending the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) meeting. Chairman Qazi Faiz Isa presided over the session, with Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court, and the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court participating as members. Notably, Justice Ahsan chose not to be part of the meeting.
Meanwhile, President Dr. Arif Alvi accepted on Thursday the resignation of Supreme Court Judge Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, said a statement from the president’s office.
