Four SC judges raise objection to 2025 rules, cite procedural lapses

Islamabad (Web Desk): Four judges of the Supreme Court have raised objections to the manner in which the Supreme Court Rules 2025 were enforced, arguing that they were brought into effect without the endorsement of the full bench.

In a joint letter, Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Munib Akhtar, Ayesha A Malik, and Athar Minallah criticised the procedure as unconstitutional and fundamentally flawed.

They pointed out that although the new rules were officially notified as “approved” on August 9, 2025, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi, convened a full court meeting just three days later to invite proposals for amendments.

The judges remarked that this very step indicated that the full court is the appropriate authority to decide such matters, yet it was excluded from the decision until after the fact.

The note underscored that the rules should have been tabled before the full court in their entirety for meaningful discussion and ratification.

The judges said the subsequent consultation gave only the appearance of legitimacy to an otherwise flawed exercise, stressing that the full court must not be relegated to a cosmetic role.

They further urged that their objections be formally recorded in the meeting’s minutes and made public to ensure transparency. According to them, the judiciary’s credibility rests on openness, and no court can retain authority without legitimacy rooted in public trust.

The Supreme Court had earlier unveiled the Rules 2025 to replace the four-decade-old Rules of 1980, describing the move as part of its push toward digitalisation, modernisation, and greater procedural clarity in line with global best practices.

Drafted under Article 191 of the Constitution, the new rules aim to remove outdated clauses and align judicial processes with modern legal, constitutional, and technological developments. The SC stated last week that the framework had taken effect immediately.

The drafting committee, appointed by CJP Afridi, included Justices Shahid Waheed, Irfan Saadat Khan, Naeem Akhter Afghan, and Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi.