Overview
- The Supreme Judicial Council approved revisions on Oct. 18 that prohibit judges from media interaction on public controversies and add restrictions on social and diplomatic engagements.
- Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar have publicly objected in a detailed letter, urging that any changes be deferred until the Supreme Court decides challenges to the 26th Constitutional Amendment and the status of a council member.
- They contested Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar’s participation while his transfer case is under appeal, warning this could undermine confidence in the council’s decisions.
- The judges said the National Judicial Policy Making Committee improperly discussed the code before the council met, effectively pre-deciding the matter because of overlapping membership.
- They singled out the revised Article V and new Article XIX as vague and prone to misuse, and criticized incorporating 2003 resolutions that further limit judges’ public engagement and foreign invitations.