Lahore High Court judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani resigns, cites concerns over constitutional amendments

LAHORE: Lahore High Court judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani has resigned from his post. In his resignation sent to the President of Pakistan, he gave personal reasons, health problems after a recent surgery and the voice of his conscience as the basis for his decision.

According to the BBC, in the resignation sent to the President on 28 October 2026, Justice Kayani said it had been an honour to serve in the Islamabad High Court and the Lahore High Court. During his time on the bench, he disposed of more than 23,000 cases of various kinds. He said he always strove to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution, protect fundamental rights and deliver justice without fear or discrimination.

Concerns over independence of high courts

In the resignation, he stated that, in his view, the changes introduced through the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments had affected the independence and institutional integrity of the high courts. According to him, the growing influence of the executive over judicial institutions has extended to the appointment and transfer of judges. He said this has severely damaged public confidence in the independence of the judiciary and the impartiality of the judicial process.

He also expressed concern over the situation of ordinary litigants. He said ordinary litigants are the real stakeholders in the justice system, yet their difficulties keep increasing while other quarters enjoy the benefits of the system. He wrote that, in the present circumstances, his conscience does not allow him to remain in judicial office.

According to Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, this is a painful decision. However, he believes a judicial office cannot be separated from independence, loyalty to the Constitution and the protection of human dignity. He said he now wants to return to the legal profession, where he will continue to work for the protection of public rights and the promotion of legal awareness.

Background of transfer and appointment

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani began his career as a judge at the Islamabad High Court. He was the most senior judge of the Islamabad High Court after Justice Aamer Farooq. After Justice Aamer Farooq moved to the Supreme Court, Justice Kayani’s chances of becoming Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court had improved. However, during the transfers of judges after the constitutional amendment, Lahore High Court judge Justice Sarfraz Dogar was made Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court.

Justice Kayani is among the three judges who were transferred from the Islamabad High Court to other provincial courts. He was second on the seniority list of the Islamabad High Court and tenth in the Lahore High Court. In the new judges’ roster, he had been assigned to the Rawalpindi Bench, where he was to hear cases from 2 November. He was due to retire on 11 February 2032.