The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has dismissed 19 complaints against judges of the superior judiciary, reaffirming its commitment to fairness and accountability. The meeting, chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, was held at the Supreme Court in Islamabad and attended by senior judges, including Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah via video link.
During the session, the Council reviewed 24 complaints filed under Article 209 of the Constitution. Out of these, 19 were dismissed, while five were deferred for further review. The Council also approved the draft of the Supreme Judicial Council Secretariat Service Rules, 2025. However, discussions on amendments to the Code of Conduct were postponed for further legal and drafting analysis.
Meanwhile, the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC), also chaired by Chief Justice Afridi, took major steps to address enforced disappearances. A dedicated committee was formed to develop an institutional framework and respond to concerns raised by the executive through the Attorney General’s office.
In addition, the NJPMC approved wide-ranging judicial reforms aimed at strengthening the justice system. These include the creation of a Commercial Litigation Corridor, a Double-Docket Court Regime in select districts, and expansion of mediation and family courts at the district level. These reforms are expected to speed up case resolution and ease judicial backlogs.
To ensure transparency and consistency across the judiciary, a committee led by Justice (retd) Rehmat Hussain Jafferi was tasked with creating performance indicators and standardising training. The NJPMC also approved the development of a Professional Excellence Index to improve the process of lawyer induction.
Looking ahead, the judiciary will explore the ethical use of generative AI in court systems. The National Judicial Automation Committee has been assigned to draft a charter for its responsible use. Additionally, new SOPs were endorsed for virtual attendance of undertrial prisoners and digital police witness statements, reflecting a shift towards technology-driven legal procedures.