• Objections filed under Article 209 of Constitution
• Cases involved superior court judges, including sitting council members

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Thursday considered and disposed of 23 different complaints, filed under Article 209 of the Constitution, against superior court judges, including some sitting members of the council.

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, who also serves as the chairperson of the SJC, the meeting was attended by Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) Aminuddin Khan, Supreme Court judges Munib Akhtar and Jamal Khan Mandokhail, FCC judge Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Aalia Neelum, and Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar.

The SJC meeting was held in the conference room of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

In what was described as a notable demonstration of institutional accountability and transparency, the council decided to first take up matters concerning some of its own members, according to an announcement issued by the SJC.

Accordingly, meetings were held with varying compositions in line with the relevant constitutional provisions.

The meeting of the reconstituted council was chaired by CJ-FCC Aminuddin Khan and attended by Supreme Court judges Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Shahid Waheed, along with Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) S M Attique Shah as substituted members.

According to Article 209(3) of the Constitution, if the council is inquiring into the conduct, capacity, or efficiency of a judge who is also a member of the council, or if a member is absent or unable to act due to illness or any other reason, then — in the case of the chief justice or a judge of the FCC or Supreme Court — the next most senior judge will attend the proceedings.

However, contrary to popular belief, the council did not consider the March 25, 2024, letter written by six IHC judges, in which serious allegations were raised regarding interference by intelligence agencies in judicial affairs and a thorough investigation was demanded.

Earlier, on Oct 23, 2025, the SJC had officially notified a new Code of Conduct for superior court judges, saying it reflected the council’s continued commitment to upholding the highest standards of judicial integrity, independence, and accountability.

The refinements, it said, reaffirmed the judiciary’s resolve to ensure that justice is administered without fear, favour, or prejudice.

The new Code of Conduct was notified despite an Oct 21 letter written by former judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and sitting judge Munib Akhtar, expressing concern that the recent additions to the code were perilous because they could be weaponised against individual judges. They argued that the broad and vague nature of the amendments allowed selective application to silence inconvenient or dissenting voices within the judiciary.

The letter, signed by members of the SJC, described the amendments to the Code of Conduct as an attempt to dilute judicial independence, suppress transparency, and centralise control in a manner inconsistent with both the Constitution and international standards.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2026