In a letter to the Judicial Commission, Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has expressed serious concerns over the extension of the tenure of the constitutional bench without a decision on the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

He warned that such a move could damage the judiciary’s credibility and erode public trust.

In a letter dated June 16, addressed to the Secretary of the Judicial Commission, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah termed the extension of the constitutional bench’s duration as potentially detrimental to the institution of the judiciary.

He cautioned that acting hastily on this matter could compromise the integrity of the court.

In his letter, Justice Shah also informed the commission that he would not be present in Pakistan for the June 19 meeting, and had notified the relevant authorities in advance.

He requested that his absence and written stance be officially recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

Raising fundamental concerns, Justice Shah stated that expanding the constitutional bench without resolving key legal issues — particularly regarding the 26th Amendment — could raise questions about the judiciary’s impartiality.

He emphasized that public confidence in the judiciary is intrinsically tied to its integrity, and any perceived partiality could tarnish its image.

He further voiced alarm over what he described as increasing executive influence on the Judicial Commission, calling it a worrying sign for judicial independence.

To address the situation, Justice Shah proposed that all judges should be designated as part of the constitutional bench until a final ruling on the 26th Amendment is reached.

He also called for the establishment of clear and transparent criteria for the composition of the constitutional bench to avoid ambiguity and any impression of political bias.