Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani has submitted his resignation to the president of Pakistan, according to Dawn. He stepped down years ahead of his scheduled retirement date of Feb 10, 2032, citing health issues following a recent surgery along with reasons of conscience. He stated in his letter that he intends to return to private legal practice.
What happened
According to Dawn, Justice Kayani submitted his resignation letter explaining that the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments have damaged the independence and integrity of high courts. He highlighted that expanding executive control over the appointment and transfer of judges has diminished public confidence in the fairness of the legal system and worsened conditions for ordinary litigants seeking justice.
Key facts
- Justice Kayani disposed of more than 23,000 cases during his time on the bench, according to Dawn.
- He was first appointed as an Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge on Dec 23, 2015, and was transferred to the LHC on April 29, where he was placed 12th on the seniority list.
- Before his transfer, he served as the senior puisne judge at the IHC and had previously challenged inter-high court transfers and administrative control exercised by the IHC chief justice in the Supreme Court.
- In March 2024, he was among six IHC judges who wrote a letter to the Supreme Judicial Council accusing intelligence agencies of interfering in judicial matters through surveillance and pressure.
- His professional background includes leadership roles in local bar associations and degrees from the University of Punjab, Karachi University, Peshawar University, and other institutions.
Why it matters
According to Dawn, Justice Kayani emphasized that holding a judicial office must remain linked to constitutional fidelity, independence, and the protection of human dignity. He concluded that his conscience would not allow him to remain on the bench while executive oversight continues to affect judicial independence and the interests of the public.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 28, 2026 · Photo by Zdenek Foukal on Unsplash
