Islamabad: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has approved major amendments to the code of conduct for judges, restricting members of the judiciary from interacting with the media or making public comments on political issues.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi chaired the meeting at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, attended virtually by Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar of the Supreme Court, while Chief Justice Aalia Neelum of the Lahore High Court and Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar of the Islamabad High Court attended in person.
According to the amended code issued on Saturday, judges are directed not to engage in any public controversy, whether through speech, writing, debate, or comment, particularly on political questions — even when such matters involve questions of law.
The code further states that judges shall refrain from any media interaction, especially regarding issues that could spark public debate or undermine institutional discipline and collegiality.
The new provisions reverse an amendment introduced during the tenure of former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, which had permitted judges to respond to public allegations.
Under the newly added Article 15, judges must now address any such matters in writing to a committee comprising the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the four senior-most judges, through the Supreme Court Registrar, for an institutional response.
The article emphasizes that judges must perform their duties strictly on merit, free from internal or external influence, maintaining intellectual integrity and moral independence. Judges are required to use all legal means to resist pressure and, if such means are unavailable, to report the matter in writing to the relevant high court’s chief justice or the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
If the relevant authorities fail to respond within the prescribed time, the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the four senior-most Supreme Court judges will take up the issue to ensure accountability and protect judicial independence.
Article 13 also restricts judges from soliciting or independently accepting invitations to meetings, conferences, or events organized by foreign or international bodies. Such invitations must instead be routed through the concerned chief justice for approval.
The SJC clarified that independently seeking or accepting such invitations would amount to misconduct and could undermine the perception of judicial neutrality.
The council also reviewed 67 complaints filed under Article 209 of the Constitution. Of these, 65 were dismissed, one was deferred, and one was approved for further proceedings. In total, since October 2024, the council has examined 155 complaints, while 87 remain pending for initial consideration.
