Supreme Judicial Council Bans Judges from Media Interaction, Tightens Code of Conduct

ISLAMABAD: In a significant move aimed at preserving judicial neutrality and institutional integrity, the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has approved major amendments to the judges’ code of conduct, barring judges from interacting with the media or commenting on political matters.

The meeting, held at the Supreme Court and chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan and SJC Chairman Justice Yahya Afridi, was attended in person by Justice Aalia Neelum (Chief Justice, Lahore High Court) and Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar (Chief Justice, Islamabad High Court). Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar joined virtually from the Supreme Court.

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Key Amendments:

According to the amended code issued on October 18, 2025, judges are now strictly prohibited from:

• Engaging in public controversy, including speeches, writings, or debates on political issues — even when legal matters are involved.

• Interacting with the media, particularly on subjects that could spark public debate or harm judicial collegiality and discipline.

This effectively reverses an earlier amendment introduced under former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, which had allowed judges to respond to public allegations.

Institutional Mechanism for Responses:

A newly added Article 15 establishes a formal procedure for handling such matters:

• Judges must submit any concerns or responses in writing to a committee comprising the CJP and four senior-most Supreme Court judges, routed through the Supreme Court Registrar.

• Judges are expected to uphold intellectual integrity, independence, and resist internal or external pressure.

• If legal remedies aren’t available, judges must report coercion or influence to the CJP and senior judges.

Restrictions on Foreign Engagements:

Under Article 13, judges are barred from independently soliciting or accepting invitations from international or foreign organisations. Any such invitation must be forwarded to the concerned Chief Justice for approval.

The SJC stressed that violating these procedures may constitute judicial misconduct, emphasizing the need for impartiality and the avoidance of perceived bias.

Complaints Reviewed by SJC:

The Council reviewed 74 complaints under Article 209 of the Constitution:

• 65 complaints were dismissed,

• 1 was deferred, and

• 2 were approved for further action by majority decision.

Since October 2024, the SJC has addressed 155 complaints, with 87 still pending.