LAHORE, Aug 13 Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha of the Lahore High Court resigned on Thursday.

The judge apparently decided to resign to avoid facing references pending against him in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for having taken oath under the Nov 3 PCO and for alleged corruption. The SJC had issued him notice in the corruption reference in its Aug 8 meeting.

Justice Paracha is the second Lahore High Court judge who sent his resignation to the president after Justice Nasim Sikandar who resigned on Aug 7. Justice Paracha was a sitting LHC judge at the time of proclamation of emergency by Gen Pervez Musharraf and opted to take an oath under the PCO along with his 21 colleagues. His case was referred to the SJC under Article 209 of the Constitution in the light of the SC verdict of July 31.

Justice Paracha was made LHC judge on May 2, 2001. He was to retire on June 30, 2011.

With his resignation, the number of LHC judges has shrunk to 20 in which 12 are PCO judges.

The court is now short of 40 judges as its sanctioned strength is 60. — Reporter