The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) of Pakistan on Thursday decided to introduce certain amendments to the Code of Conduct for Judges while considering a range of institutional and administrative matters during a meeting held at the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Meeting Chaired by Chief Justice
The meeting was chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi in his capacity as Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council. It was attended by Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Supreme Court judges Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Federal Constitutional Court judge Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Justice Aalia Neelum. Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court Justice S.M. Attique Shah participated as a substituted member.
Deferred Discussion on Procedural Rules
The Council also discussed the proposed draft Rules Regulating Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Council. However, the matter was deferred for further deliberations.
Institutional Accountability and Transparency
In what was described as a demonstration of institutional accountability and transparency, the Council took up matters relating to some of its own members. For that purpose, meetings were held in different compositions in accordance with relevant constitutional provisions. The reconstituted Council included Supreme Court judges Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Ayesha A. Malik, along with Federal Constitutional Court judges Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi as substituted members.
During the proceedings, the Council considered ten matters under Article 209 of the Constitution and disposed of all business included in the agenda. The meeting concluded after reviewing judicial accountability matters and deliberating on reforms aimed at strengthening the Council's regulatory framework and institutional functioning.
