LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said on Monday that the resignation of judges is a moment of deep concern for every individual who dreams of the supremacy of the Constitution, justice, law, and democracy in Pakistan.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, he wrote that “Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah have resigned from the Supreme Court, and now Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court has also joined them.”
He said that Athar Minallah was a frontline companion during the Lawyers’ Movement for the restoration of judges. “After he became a judge, I never met him nor interacted with him, but in my view, he is among the few honest and upright members of the judiciary.”
Khawaja Saad stated that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah performed outstandingly as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court. He performed his duties without yielding to any pressure, and many acknowledge his competence
and integrity. Similarly, Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza is among the judges of the Lahore High Court who hold a good reputation.
Regardless of disagreements with the decisions of the judges who have resigned, or the grievances we may have had, he has always believed in their capability and general sense of fairness, he added.
He castigated those who talked of Justice Mirza relation with Salman Akram Raja. He admitted that such a relationship has never interfered with his work.
He said Supreme Court judges had resigned some time ago, but it would be unfair to link or equate their resignations with the recently resigned judges.
The former federal minister wrote that as a political comrade, he is deeply saddened by the resignations of these judges. “If the latest resignations are viewed through the lens of factional politics, the situation may seem pleasing, but when viewed impartially, these resignations are a moment of serious concern for every person who dreams of the supremacy of the Constitution, justice, law, and democracy in Pakistan.”
Khawaja Saad said that it seems this chain of resignations will not stop here and may continue from the judiciary to the Parliament. But it must be remembered that not every opponent can be arrested, nor can every critic be labelled as an enemy of the state.
The PML-N leader added that a responsible state keeps matters calm. How long can a nuclear-armed Pakistan, surrounded by adversaries, afford internal conflict? Creating new disputes to resolve long-standing ones is not called wisdom. Instead of beating drums of celebration over these resignations, it would be more appropriate to focus on addressing the fault lines that have emerged, the senior leader concluded.
