On Saturday, Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, firmly dismissed rumors about his resignation, stating that he would continue fulfilling his duties with dedication and would not be stepping down.
Speaking informally with journalists after addressing a function at the Federal Judicial Academy on providing justice to children, Justice Mansoor clarified that reports of his resignation were baseless rumors. When asked about the speculations, he responded, saying, “These are just rumors. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll continue doing my work to the best of my ability.”
Earlier, during his address at the event “Reimagine Justice for Children in Pakistan,” a joint initiative by the Federal Judicial Academy and UNICEF, Justice Mansoor emphasized the urgent need for a compassionate and fair justice system for children. He stressed that the rights of children must be prioritized, not only for their current well-being but as an investment in the future.
“For our children, who are both our future and our present, we cannot afford to delay action. We must set the system in motion step by step, but we must act now,” he urged. Justice Mansoor highlighted that children must be given the opportunity to exercise their human rights today. He also pointed out the importance of allowing children to be heard in court, particularly in cases involving their welfare, instead of only listening to their parents’ positions.
The judge also criticized the slow pace of the justice system, particularly in child-related cases, noting that it often takes decades for these cases to be resolved. “If a child is involved in a case, their voice should be heard,” he stated, calling for a more efficient process for handling cases involving children.
Justice Mansoor further raised concerns about the challenges children face today, including cyberbullying, the absence of educational opportunities for millions, and issues such as child marriage, forced religious conversion, and corporal punishment in schools. He emphasized that these issues should be addressed urgently to protect children’s rights.
He also called on Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, who was present at the event, to interpret Article 11(3) of the Constitution, which pertains to child rights. Justice Mansoor expressed his regret for not being able to contribute to the interpretation due to not being part of the Constitutional Bench but urged his colleague to take action.
