In a startling turn of events, Justice Ijazul Ahsan of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has submitted his resignation, relinquishing his judicial responsibilities, as reported by Express News on Thursday.

Sources reveal that Justice Ahsan has officially tendered his written resignation to President Dr. Arif Alvi.

Following Justice Naqvi’s Resignation, Justice Ijazul Ahsan Also Steps Down

The unexpected development comes at a time when Justice Ahsan was poised to assume the position of the next Chief Justice of Pakistan, following the scheduled retirement of the current Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa in October this year.

This announcement follows closely on the heels of the resignation of Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, who stepped down from his position as a Supreme Court judge on the grounds that continuing in this capacity was no longer feasible for him. Justice Naqvi faces charges of misconduct and was entangled in ongoing proceedings at the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which ultimately accepted his resignation.

Justice Ahsan had previously expressed concerns about the expeditious manner in which the SJC was handling the proceedings related to the complaints against Justice Naqvi.

He had called for the withdrawal of the show cause notice issued to Justice Naqvi on November 22 and articulated his dissent with the majority verdict in a detailed 4-page opinion.

The senior judge criticized the haste in which the SJC proceedings were conducted, contrary to established norms, emphasizing the need for careful consideration, discussion, and deliberation, especially in cases where unanimity is lacking. He asserted that the proceedings lacked meaningful debate and discussion, casting doubt on the integrity of the entire process.

Justice Ahsan, who assumed the role of a Supreme Court judge in June 2016 and held the third position on the seniority list, leaves a vacancy that will have cascading effects on the succession within the judiciary. As per the current hierarchy, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is now poised to ascend to the position of Chief Justice later this year, becoming the most senior judge.

Earlier in the day, Justice Ahsan recused himself from the Supreme Judicial Council meeting, which was presided over by Chairman Qazi Faiz Isa. The Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court and the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court participated as members. Following the resignation, the council’s actions will proceed with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah as the senior judge, provided he is available to participate in the proceedings.