SJC amends judges’ code to allow attendance at political, diplomatic events with approval

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council has approved changes to the Code of Conduct for judges, allowing judges of the superior courts to attend or preside over political and diplomatic functions if they first obtain permission from the relevant chief justice.

The decision was taken at the council’s June 11 meeting chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi. The meeting also considered the draft Rules Regulating Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Council. According to an official announcement issued on Saturday, the session was attended by Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court Justice Aminuddin and the chief justices of the Lahore and Peshawar high courts.

Under the amended provision, judges of the superior courts are to refrain from attending or presiding over political or diplomatic functions unless they have prior approval from the relevant chief justice. Earlier, Article XII of the Code of Conduct imposed a complete prohibition on judges of the superior courts from attending or presiding over social, cultural, political or diplomatic functions.

The council also revised the definition of superior court to include the newly established Federal Constitutional Court. Following that change, the title of the code has been updated to Code of Conduct for Judges of the Federal Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the High Courts. Previously, the Federal Constitutional Court was not included in the title.

Changes to reporting mechanism

Amendments were also made to Article XV, which requires judges to decide matters before them solely on merit, maintain moral integrity and intellectual independence, and seek an immediate institutional response where legal powers are insufficient.

The official amendment sets out the reporting process in cases where attempts are made to influence judges. It states “Judges must promptly inform, in writing, the CJP and the four most senior Supreme Court judges (via the registrar) of any such attempts (to influence); high court judges must also inform their respective chief justices”.

The revised framework further provides that where such attempts are made, a high court judge must immediately report the matter in writing through the respective registrars to the chief justice of the relevant high court, the chief justice of Pakistan, the chief justice of the Federal Constitutional Court or the Supreme Court, and the two senior-most judges each of the Federal Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court. In the case of the Federal Constitutional Court or the Supreme Court, the judge concerned must immediately report the matter in writing to the chief justice and the four senior-most judges of the relevant court through the respective registrars.

Under the amended procedure, the chief justice of a high court is required to place the matter before a three-member committee within two days of receiving the judge’s report. That committee must decide the report within a fortnight. If the matter is referred for judicial determination, it is to be decided as early as possible in line with fair trial and due process principles. If the chief justice or, where applicable, the high court committee does not respond within the prescribed period, the Federal Constitutional Court or the Supreme Court that was informed by the judge will take up the matter.

The Federal Constitutional Court had earlier been included in Article XV of the Code of Conduct. The court was established as Pakistan’s apex court after the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed in November 2025, after which the Supreme Court became the final appellate court for civil and criminal matters.