A report by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reveals widespread corruption within Pakistan’s justice system. The 32-page document titled ‘Under the Bench: Mapping corruption risks in Pakistan’s justice system’ highlights how corruption has deeply infiltrated all levels of the judiciary, compromising its independence and effectiveness. The report suggests that judicial corruption in Pakistan has escalated to a systemic and potentially grand scale.
The report emphasizes the detrimental impact of corruption on human rights, particularly the right to fair trial, especially affecting vulnerable groups like minorities. It also points out that recent constitutional amendments in Pakistan have significantly reduced the judiciary’s independence by altering judicial appointments and expanding grounds for judicial removal. This shift has allowed political influence in judicial processes, contrary to international standards for judicial independence.
Furthermore, the report underscores the failure of existing anti-corruption measures to hold judicial actors accountable and prevent future corrupt practices. It highlights the severe human rights implications of judicial corruption, including violations of due process and equality before the law, especially affecting marginalized communities and minorities. The report also links corruption to issues such as torture, capital punishment, and gender equality within the legal profession and judiciary.
The FIDH and HRCP stress the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to restore judicial independence and address the root causes of corruption in the judiciary. They call on Pakistani authorities to safeguard judicial independence, repeal recent constitutional amendments that compromise it, and ensure accountability for corrupt practices within the judiciary. The organizations urge authorities to prioritize investigating and prosecuting corruption allegations involving judicial officials.
