ISLAMABAD, Oct 4: The Supreme Judicial Council of Pakistan on Saturday barred superior court judges from attending or presiding over literary, social, cultural, political or diplomatic functions.

An announcement by the Supreme Court’s registrar said that the decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of the SJC, presided over by Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, Chief Justice of Pakistan. The meeting, held here at the Supreme Court building, was convened to evolve a strategy to initiate steps for the accountability of judges.

The SJC, it said, also decided to monitor the judges’ adherence to the code of conduct in letter and spirit.

The meeting was unanimous on holding frequent meetings to apprise itself of the working of the courts and to initiate steps that might be required for strengthening the administration of justice.

The council considered the effect of the amendment made in Article 209 of the Constitution under which the SJC has been enabled to inquire into the matters relating to misconduct of the judges of the superior courts suo motu, on information received from any source.

The meeting was also attended by members of the council comprising Justice Munir A. Sheikh, Judge Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Nazir Hussain Siddiqui, Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Chief Justice, High Court of Sindh, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Chief Justice, High Court of Balochistan and M. A Farooqi, Registrar Supreme Court. Article 209 of the Constitution was amended by President Pervez Musharraf through legal framework order (LFO), under which the SJC was authorized to inquire into matters relating to corruption or incapacity of a judge to perform his functions properly, at its own accord.