SC judges express concern over Judicial Council’s handling of code of conduct issue

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court judges Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Munib Akhtar express concern over the Judicial Council’s handling of the code of conduct issue in a letter written to Chief Justice Yaha Afridi.

According to details, the letter was written on October 17 in connection with the proposed amendments to the Judges’ Code of Conduct.

In the letter, the judges stated that they had submitted their comments at the beginning of the meeting, a day before the Judicial Council session was held.

The letter stated that we attended the meeting through video link and tried to present our position despite the poor internet. We had ensured that the signed copy would be submitted after the meeting on October 20.

The text of the letter further states that we are writing our signed letter following the unconstitutional developments that took place in the National Judicial Policy-Making Committee meeting.

The issue of the Judges’ Code of Conduct was discussed unconstitutionally in the National Judicial Policy Making Committee meeting a day before the Judicial Council meeting.

The issue of the Judges’ Code of Conduct falls solely under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Judicial Council.

The letter written by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Muneeb Akhtar further states that in the council meeting, we said that first, the matter of our letter of October 13 should be resolved, in which it was proposed to postpone the Judicial Council meeting or reconstitute the council.

According to the letter, the case against Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar is pending in the Supreme Court.

The decision of the case against Justice Sarfaraz Dogar may affect the membership of the council. Without determining the constitutional status of the council, questions will be raised on the legality of its decisions.