LHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani Resigns

LAHORE : Lahore High Court Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani resigned on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from his office.

He has sent his resignation to the President of Pakistan under Article 179 of the Constitution.

According to the resignation note, he cited personal reasons, including health concerns following a recent surgery, and “reasons of conscience”.

*TIMELINE AND DETAILS:*

*1. Present Status Before Resignation:*

– His resignation comes days after he returned to the twin cities to preside over a single bench at the Rawalpindi registry following a reshuffle at the high court.
– He was assigned to preside over a single bench at the Rawalpindi registry from November 2 to December 24, 2026.
– Despite being a senior judge of the LHC, he was not assigned to any division bench at the principal seat.

*2. Seniority and Retirement:*

– He was second on the Islamabad High Court’s seniority list before his transfer.
– At the time of resignation, he was tenth on the Lahore High Court seniority list.
– He was due to retire on February 11, 2032. He has stepped down more than five years before his retirement date.

*3. Transfer History:*

– He was transferred to the LHC in April 2026 and assigned to its principal seat in Lahore.
– He was among three judges transferred to other high courts from the Islamabad High Court in April 2026 on a proposal initiated by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar.
– The Judicial Commission of Pakistan, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, approved the transfers on April 28, 2026.
– The approved transfers were: Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani from IHC to LHC, Justice Babar Sattar to Peshawar High Court, and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz to Sindh High Court.
– Following his transfer to the LHC, Justice Kayani lost his seniority and was placed 12th on the LHC seniority list.

*4. Legal Challenge to Transfers:*

– Justice Kayani, along with other senior IHC judges, had challenged the inter-high court transfers.
– He also approached the Supreme Court to challenge the administrative powers exercised by IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar, alleging that the office had been turned into a “monocracy” and that judges could be excluded from the roster at will.
– The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench upheld the transfers to the IHC, including that of Justice Dogar, who is now Chief Justice of IHC.

*5. Judicial Career:*

– He was elevated to the Islamabad High Court bench on December 23, 2015.
– He served as the senior puisne judge of the Islamabad High Court and was expecting elevation as Chief Justice before his transfer.

*6. Background of Resignation:*

– Born on February 11, 1970.
– Before elevation, he served as President of Islamabad High Court Bar Association from 2013 to 2014.

His resignation will now be forwarded for formal approval.