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Ex-CJ Candidates Mansoor Ali Shah, Athar Minallah Receive Over Rs300m in Commuted Pensions
Former SC judges Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah have received over Rs315 million in commuted pensions after resigning over the 27th Amendment, with monthly pensions exceeding Rs1.1m each plus post-retirement perks.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-02
Ex-CJ Candidates Mansoor Ali Shah, Athar Minallah Receive Over Rs300m in Commuted Pensions

Former Supreme Court judges Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah have received commuted pensions amounting to more than Rs161 million and Rs154 million respectively following their resignations after the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, sources said.

According to available information, both retired judges are also drawing substantial monthly pensions. Justice Athar Minallah is receiving a total monthly pension of Rs1,220,381, while Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s monthly pension stands at Rs1,135,496.

Sources said Justice Athar Minallah’s pension package includes a driver pension of Rs91,258, a special additional pension of Rs84,885, along with medical and other admissible allowances. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah’s pension similarly includes a driver pension of Rs91,258, medical allowances amounting to Rs45,799 and an additional Rs11,450 under other heads.

The Law Ministry had earlier significantly enhanced financial benefits for judges of the higher judiciary. According to officials, the house rent allowance was increased to Rs3.5 million, while the Superior Judicial Allowance was raised to over Rs1.1 million. These revisions also influenced the overall pension calculations of retired judges.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah served on the bench for a total of 16 years, one month and 26 days, while Justice Athar Minallah served for 11 years, four months and 24 days before stepping down. Both judges resigned in November 2025 in protest against the 27th Constitutional Amendment, which they believed had weakened the powers and independence of the Supreme Court.

Despite their retirement, both former judges continue to enjoy a wide range of post-retirement privileges under the Supreme Court Judges Order, 1997. These benefits include full medical coverage, accommodation facilities, official staff, capped utility bills, official vehicles with fuel, security arrangements, protocol privileges, immunity, and benefits extended to their spouses.

In November last year, the federal government also approved major increases in salaries and allowances for serving judges of the superior judiciary. A notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice stated that the house rent of Supreme Court judges was enhanced from Rs68,000 to Rs350,000, while the Superior Judicial Allowance was increased from Rs428,040 to Rs1,161,163.

President Asif Ali Zardari formally accepted the resignations of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah on November 14, 2025. However, the current government largely dismissed their resignations, terming them personal or politically motivated reactions rather than principled opposition to the constitutional amendment.

Under existing rules, retired Supreme Court judges are also entitled to purchase their used official vehicles at concessional rates and are provided with a staff car or driver/orderly, in addition to other lifetime facilities.

The disclosure of the pension figures and post-retirement benefits has sparked renewed debate over judicial privileges, public expenditure, and institutional accountability amid Pakistan’s ongoing economic challenges.
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SupremeCourt

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27thAmendment

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