Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has expressed concerns regarding the recent formation of a new Ordinance Committee in a letter addressed to the Practice and Procedure Committee.
In his correspondence, Justice Shah said that the previous committee could have continued its work despite the introduction of the ordinance, pending a full court review by the Chief Justice.
He questioned the necessity of reconstituting the committee so soon after the ordinance was enacted, stating that no explanation was provided for the removal of Justice Muneeb Akhtar from the committee.
Justice Mansoor made it clear that he would not participate in any meetings unless the former committee was reinstated.
Highlighting the importance of judicial transparency and independence, Justice Shah noted that the Chief Justice had previously expressed reservations about the ordinance.
He argued that a full court meeting should have been convened to discuss the ordinance’s implications, as its immediate implementation could undermine the integrity of the judiciary and affect its reputation.
He argued that the new ordinance's constitutionality is questionable in light of a previous Supreme Court judgment and that proceeding with the committee's work under these circumstances could damage the judiciary's reputation.
