Rumours swirl as another ‘likeminded’ SC judge bows out

ISLAMABAD: Justice Ijazul Ahsan, senior judge of the Supreme Court (SC), who was supposed to become the next chief justice of Pakistan in October 2024, tendered his resignation on Thursday, saying he no longer wishes to continue as a judge of the apex court.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan was the senior most judge of the SC after the incumbent Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, and regarded as likeminded judge in the camp of former chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Umer Ata Bandial. His resignation came as a surprise when it was received at the office of President Dr Arif Alvi.

A day earlier, Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi, who was facing charges of misconduct in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), had stepped down saying it was no longer possible for him to continue to serve as a judge of the Supreme Court.

“I have had the honour and privilege of serving as a judge of the Lahore High Court, the chief justice of Lahore High Court, and a judge of the Supreme Court; however, I no longer wish to continue as a judge of the Supreme Court,” Justice Ahsan wrote to the President while tendering his resignation.

“Therefore, I, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, resign as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in terms of Article 206(1) of the Constitution with immediate effect,” he wrote in his resignation letter.

Justice Ahsan also did not participate in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) proceedings on Thursday, which was hearing the misconduct complaints against former judge Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar Naqvi. Later, the next senior most judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali, was made part of the proceedings.