Islamabad: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, reviewed 24 complaints filed under Article 209 of the Constitution during a meeting held in Islamabad on Saturday. Of these, 19 complaints were unanimously dismissed, while five were deferred for further examination.
According to an official statement, the meeting also included discussion on proposed administrative reforms and key judicial matters. The Council approved the draft of the Supreme Judicial Council Secretariat Service Rules, 2025, though it recommended more in-depth legal and drafting review before finalizing new procedures for inquiries and amendments to the judicial Code of Conduct.
Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah participated in the session via video link, while Justices Munib Akhtar, Aalia Neelum (Chief Justice of Lahore High Court), and Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar (Chief Justice of Sindh High Court) were present in person.
Meanwhile, the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC), in its 53rd meeting held on Friday at the Supreme Court, resolved to shield judicial officers from external influence. The committee directed high courts to establish mechanisms for reporting and addressing such incidents within a specified timeframe.
The NJPMC, a statutory body responsible for setting judicial policy, also expressed grave concern over enforced disappearances across the country. It reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to safeguarding constitutional rights and formed a committee to develop an institutional response in consultation with the executive, to be coordinated through the Attorney General for Pakistan.
In other developments, the NJPMC approved initiatives aimed at boosting judicial efficiency, technology integration, and citizen-focused justice delivery. Among the reforms was the approval of a Commercial Litigation Corridor, featuring specialized courts and benches to streamline resolution of business-related disputes.
