Following Justice Naqvi’s Resignation, Justice Ijazul Ahsan Also Steps Down
In an unexpected development, Justice Ijazul Ahsan of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has tendered his resignation, stepping down from his judicial duties, as reported by Express News on Thursday.
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Sources indicate that Justice Ahsan submitted his written resignation to President Dr. Arif Alvi. He was previously slated to succeed the current Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Isa, who is set to retire in October of this year.
This surprising announcement follows the resignation of Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, who faced charges of misconduct and stepped down from his position as a judge of the Supreme Court on the previous day. Justice Naqvi’s resignation, also related to ongoing proceedings at the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), was accepted by the president earlier on the same day.
Justice Ahsan had raised concerns on Tuesday about the expeditious nature of the SJC’s proceedings against Justice Naqvi. In a 4-page opinion, he criticized the haste with which the council was conducting the proceedings, emphasizing the lack of full, frank, and detailed discussion—a departure from established norms. He disagreed with the process and manner in which the proceedings were being conducted, casting doubt over the entire process.
Having assumed the role of a Supreme Court judge in June 2016, Justice Ahsan was currently the third in seniority. Following his resignation, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is expected to ascend to the position of chief justice later this year, being the most senior judge.
Earlier on the same day, Justice Ahsan recused himself from attending the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) meeting, where the resignation of Justice Naqvi was discussed. The Chief Justice of Pakistan instructed the Attorney General to read out Justice Naqvi’s resignation during the proceedings. The absence of Justice Ijazul Ahsan was acknowledged, and the Chief Justice announced that if Justice Shah is present, the council’s actions will proceed accordingly. Subsequently, the meeting resumed with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah joining as a council member under the chairmanship of the Judicial Council.
