SJC moves to amend judges’ code of conduct, defers rules draft

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Thursday decided to make amendments to the Code of Conduct for Judges while taking up a range of institutional and administrative matters at a meeting held at the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The meeting was presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi in his capacity as chairman of the council. Those in attendance included 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 Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum. Peshawar High Court Chief Justice S.M. Attique Shah attended as a substituted member.

Draft rules taken up

The council also reviewed a proposed draft of the Rules Regulating Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Council. That matter, however, was put off for further deliberation.

In what was described as an exercise in institutional accountability and transparency, the SJC also considered issues concerning some of its own members. For that purpose, separate sittings were held in different compositions in line with the relevant constitutional provisions.

Reconstituted council heard matters

For those proceedings, the reconstituted council comprised 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 meeting, the council considered 10 matters under Article 209 of the Constitution and completed all business placed on its agenda.