Amid resentment among legal circles over the newly enacted 27th amendment, Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza of the Lahore High Court on Saturday submitted his resignation.

Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza became the first judge to resign from any high court after the contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment was enacted into law.

Sources say that during a hearing a day before, Justice Mirza had expressed concerns over the curtailment of his powers following the constitutional amendment.

On Saturday, he formally sent his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari.

According to sources, his resignation letter stated that in light of the latest amendment to the constitution, he could not continue in good conscience.

The 27th Constitutional Amendment has sparked a debate among the legal fraternity over a reduction in judges’ powers and administrative control.

Following Justice Mirza’s decision, further resignations are expected in the coming days.

Earlier, after the approval of the 27th amendment by parliament, senior Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah resigned from their positions.

Additionally, Supreme Court Justice Musarrat Hilali has declined to join the Federal Constitutional Court, citing health reasons.

Justice Mirza was appointed as an additional judge of the LHC in 2014, and his superannuation was due on March 6, 2028.