ISLAMABAD — The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Saturday approved sweeping amendments to the Code of Conduct for superior court judges, banning them from public debates, political commentary, or media interaction.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, was attended by senior judges from the Supreme Court and High Courts. The new rules are aimed at strengthening judicial discipline and safeguarding public trust in the judiciary.
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Under the revised Article V, judges are barred from speaking or writing publicly on political or controversial issues. They cannot interact with the media or comment on cases that may cause public debate. Any allegations made against a judge will now be handled institutionally through a committee led by the CJP and four senior judges.
New articles also restrict judges from attending social, cultural, or diplomatic events. Accepting dinners or receptions in their honour or directly seeking international invitations is now considered misconduct.
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The amendments reaffirm that judges must decide cases purely on merit and report any attempts to influence them. Cases of interference must be reported to the CJP or respective chief justices for swift review.
Originally introduced in 1962, the Code of Conduct has been updated several times. The latest amendments, finalized on October 18, 2025, mark the most comprehensive revision in over a decade.
During the meeting, the SJC also reviewed 74 misconduct complaints. Out of these, 70 were dismissed or closed, two were set for further action, and one was deferred until November 20. A total of 87 complaints now remain pending before the council.