PML-N senior leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Monday expressed deep concern over the recent wave of judicial resignations, calling it a worrying moment for everyone who believes in the supremacy of the Constitution, justice, law, and democracy in Pakistan.
In a statement on X, he noted that Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had already stepped down from the Supreme Court, and now Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court has joined them.
Saad Rafique recalled Athar Minallah's role as a leading figure in the Lawyers' Movement for the restoration of judges, describing him as one of the few honest and upright members of the judiciary.
He praised Justice Mansoor Ali Shah's tenure as Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, saying he served with competence, integrity, and without bowing to pressure. Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza, he noted, also enjoys a reputation for fairness.
He acknowledged that while there may have been disagreements with some of the judges' decisions, he always believed in their capability and impartiality. He criticised those attempting to link Justice Mirza's resignation to his relation with lawyer Salman Akram Raja, saying such associations never influenced his judicial work.
Saad Rafique stressed that resignations by Supreme Court judges in the past should not be equated with the recent ones, as the circumstances differ. As a political worker, he said the latest resignations are deeply saddening. Viewed through partisan lenses, some may find them favourable, but objectively, they represent a serious concern for anyone committed to constitutional supremacy and democracy.
He warned that this chain of resignations may not stop at the judiciary and could extend to Parliament. He cautioned that not every critic can be arrested, nor every opponent labelled an enemy of the state. A responsible state, he said, maintains stability -- especially when Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country surrounded by adversaries, cannot afford internal turmoil.
Instead of celebrating these resignations, Saad Rafique urged the government and political forces to focus on addressing the deeper fault lines that have surfaced.