Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani Resigns Over Judicial Interference

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani resigned from the Lahore High Court on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, citing health concerns and reasons of conscience. In a resignation letter submitted to President Asif Ali Zardari, Kayani asserted that the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments compromised the independence and institutional integrity of the high courts.

Kayani accused the executive branch of exerting growing control over the appointment and transfer of judges, arguing that this interference eroded public confidence in the fairness of the judicial process and deepened the suffering of ordinary litigants. His departure follows a period of professional instability; in April 2026, he was transferred from the Islamabad High Court, where he served as senior puisne judge, to the Lahore High Court, resulting in a loss of seniority.

Prior to his resignation, Kayani had challenged the appointment of Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and accused him of creating a monocracy through the administrative control of bench rosters. He was also among six judges who alleged that intelligence agencies pressured judicial officers through surveillance and the intimidation of family members. His resignation occurred one day after a new roster assigned him to a single bench at the Rawalpindi registry. Kayani intends to return to legal practice to continue protecting citizens' rights.