Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani resigned as a judge of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The Islamabad-based judge attributed his decision to personal reasons, specifically health issues following a recent surgery.
Kayani stated, "In these circumstances, my conscience does not permit me to continue on the bench." The judge expressed concerns that the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments have compromised the institutional integrity of the high courts.
He further alleged that the executive is exerting growing control over the appointment and transfer of judges, which he believes has eroded public confidence in the judicial process. Kayani had been transferred from the Islamabad High Court to the Lahore High Court in April 2026 following a proposal by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan approved these transfers on 28 April 2026, and the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench later upheld the moves. Following his transfer, Kayani was placed 12th on the seniority list and assigned to a single bench at the Rawalpindi registry.
Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, who was transferred from the Lahore High Court, now serves as the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court. Kayani and other senior judges had previously challenged the administrative powers of Dogar, alleging the office had become a "monocracy".
The outgoing judge intends to return to legal practice after his resignation.
