Two judges in a row: Future Chief Justice, Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan resigns

The second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan has resigned after removing himself from the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

Journalist Azaz Syed took to X (former Twitter) and wrote, “Breaking: A future Chief Justice, Justice Ejaz ul Ahsan also tenders his resignation. Now rostrum of future chief justices will also be changed. Ejaz ul Ahsan isb neither a judge now nor a future CJ.”

Breaking : A future Chief Justice,Justice Ejaz ul Ahsan also tenders his resignation. Now rostrum of future chief justices will also be changed. Ejaz ul Ahsan isbneither a judge now , nor a future CJ pic.twitter.com/EYuMmItHWQ

— Azaz Syed (@AzazSyed) January 11, 2024

The move comes after earlier this week, Justice Mazahar Naqvi also tendered his resignation. The resignation was allegedly triggered by an open meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council.

Senior Journalist Matiullah Jan tweeted what he believes, is the reason for Justice Ijaz’s resignation.

خس کم جہاں پاک !

جمہوریت اور آئین کی فتح ہوئی ہے۔

جسٹس اعجاز الاحسن جان چکے تھے کہ ابھی استعفی نہیں دیا تو پھر ریفرنس کے بعد جان نہیں چھوٹے گی

— Matiullah Jan (@Matiullahjan919) January 11, 2024

The council was held under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa on a complaint against Justice Mazahar Naqvi, in which Justice Sardar Tariq, Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Justice Amir Bhatti, and Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Naeem Akhtar Afghan participated. However, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan did not attend the council meeting.

In the meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council, no one appeared in the council on behalf of former judge Mazahar Naqvi, on which the Chief Justice questioned whether Justice Mazahar Naqvi’s lawyer Khawaja Haris, or his juniors were present.

The Chief Justice spoke to the Attorney General that did you receive Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan’s resignation. The Chief Justice directed the Attorney General to read out the resignation, on which he read out the resignation of the former judge.

The Chief Justice of Pakistan said that the article under which the resignation was given should be read, on which the Attorney General read out Article 179.

The Chief Justice asked if the Council could act without Justice Ijaz or will it be the next senior judge. The attorney general said that the council must include a senior judge.

Justice Qazi Faez said that Justice Ijaz-ul-Hasan has resigned from joining the council and the next senior judge is Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. It then has to be ascertained whether Justice Mansoor is available or not.

The Chief Justice directed the Secretary of the Council to find out the availability of Justice Mansoor and said that if Justice Mansoor is available, then the Council will sit again.

Under Clause three of Article 209 of the Constitution, if there is no judge in the Council, the next senior judge can be included.

Later, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah joined the council in place of Justice Ijaz-Ul-Ahsan and the council stopped the council meeting until the availability of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.