AGL 38.83 Decreased By ▼ -0.06 (-0.15%)
AIRLINK 143.40 Decreased By ▼ -2.00 (-1.38%)
BOP 5.24 Increased By ▲ 0.04 (0.77%)
CNERGY 3.72 Decreased By ▼ -0.06 (-1.59%)
DCL 7.58 Decreased By ▼ -0.09 (-1.17%)
DFML 46.40 Increased By ▲ 1.22 (2.7%)
DGKC 80.88 Increased By ▲ 1.75 (2.21%)
FCCL 27.42 Decreased By ▼ -0.58 (-2.07%)
FFBL 55.00 Increased By ▲ 1.67 (3.13%)
FFL 8.56 Decreased By ▼ -0.09 (-1.04%)
HUBC 111.02 Decreased By ▼ -10.80 (-8.87%)
HUMNL 11.42 Increased By ▲ 0.46 (4.2%)
KEL 3.77 Increased By ▲ 0.02 (0.53%)
KOSM 8.33 Increased By ▲ 0.01 (0.12%)
MLCF 35.20 Increased By ▲ 0.44 (1.27%)
NBP 61.35 Increased By ▲ 2.10 (3.54%)
OGDC 171.90 Increased By ▲ 2.68 (1.58%)
PAEL 25.78 Increased By ▲ 0.18 (0.7%)
PIBTL 5.97 Decreased By ▼ -0.02 (-0.33%)
PPL 127.55 Increased By ▲ 0.05 (0.04%)
PRL 25.58 Increased By ▲ 0.70 (2.81%)
PTC 12.15 Increased By ▲ 0.21 (1.76%)
SEARL 57.00 Increased By ▲ 1.47 (2.65%)
TELE 7.10 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (0.42%)
TOMCL 34.80 Decreased By ▼ -0.35 (-1%)
TPLP 6.95 Decreased By ▼ -0.05 (-0.71%)
TREET 13.85 Decreased By ▼ -0.04 (-0.29%)
TRG 47.05 Increased By ▲ 1.23 (2.68%)
UNITY 26.05 Decreased By ▼ -0.14 (-0.53%)
WTL 1.21 No Change ▼ 0.00 (0%)
BR100 9,096 Increased By 116.2 (1.29%)
BR30 27,261 Decreased By -159.3 (-0.58%)
KSE100 85,664 Increased By 753.7 (0.89%)
KSE30 27,441 Increased By 243.7 (0.9%)

“The Supreme Court, of course, has the responsibility of ensuring that our government never oversteps its proper bounds or violates the rights of individuals. But the Court must also recognize the limits on itself and respect the choices made by the American people”— Elena Kagan, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States.

An independent and impartial judicial system ensures rule of law in the country. The World Justice Project (WJP) Report listed Denmark, Norway, and Finland at the top of its Rule of Law Index ranking 2021. Denmark is known for having the best judicial system in place and its citizens have more faith in it than even the parliament. They strongly believe in transparency; therefore, the judges have to pass through a strict scrutiny process and all information about them is made public.

A report by Denmark Domstole, titled ‘A close look at the courts of Denmark’, shows that in Denmark between 2018 and 2020 on an average 800,000 cases per year were decided. Norway’s judicial system’s independence is exemplary as well. They opted for the best prisoner reforms following Sweden’s example offering free legal assistance in civil suits.

However, the supervisory Judicial Committee, an independent disciplinary board monitors the judges’ unprofessional conduct and misbehavior. Similarly, Finland follows strict laws to ensure transparency and accountability within its judicial system. Chapter 40 of the Finish Criminal Code which deals with offenses in the office is equally applicable to judges.

The United States, in a recent Judicial Conference, adopted various transparency measures, including automating the release of judges’ financial disclosure reports, as well as an amended conflict screening policy that requires judges to sign a model conflict certification statement twice in a year. Besides, the judicial conference requires consistency of approved model plan by each circuit council with the implementation of the mandatory conflict screening.

It may be noted that although these countries’ judicial systems are independent and their public acceptance level is greater than underdeveloped country yet they believe in ensuring transparency and adopting strict accountability mechanisms for their judges. Therefore, people of these countries trust their judicial systems more than any other public office.

Another factor that is very important for maintaining independence is based on the behaviuor and the quality of the decisions. In underdeveloped countries, judges normally ignore this principle. They hardly believe in transparency in the appointment of judges. Moreover, decisions pronounced without legal substance only to favour a particular party merely invite public criticism.

Pakistan’s judiciary, known for judicial activism, was ranked among bottom performing countries (130th out of 139th) on the Rule of Law Index ranking 2021 by the WJP Report. According to the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan [“the Constitution”], the judicial system operates independent of the executive.

However, past and recent events corroborate the perception that the establishment has a degree of influence over judiciary and has been hand in glove in all supra constitutional steps taken in the last 75 years, except judicial martial law of General Pervez Musharraf. Constant interference in the executive’s working has paralysed the functional efficiency of government while at the same time they have failed to perform their own duties in a timely manner. According to a media report, in mid-July of this year, 2.144 million cases were pending in the country’s superior and lower judiciary.

It is important to note that the tax-free [see clauses (55) and (56) of Part I of Second Schedule to the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001] benefits extended to judges are perhaps unparallel. Judges of superior court can have a chauffeur-driven car with 600 liters of petrol, free medical treatment along with family, and rent-free residence maintained by the government with the provision of prescribed limit of electricity, gas, and water, and air tickets of spouse on a journey if travelling together. Judges are also given a transport grant equal to one month’s pay.

After retirement, a judge is entitled to the minimum amount of pension equal to 70% of the salary determined by the President from time to time payable to the Chief Justice, or a Judge plus 5% of the said salary of each completed year of service either as Chief Justice or Judge not exceeding the maximum amount of pension equal to 85% of the said salary. For their protection and safety, the government also deploys one security guard at the retired judge’s residence round the clock. A Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan is entitled to purchase an official vehicle at depreciated value on retirement.

It is also important to note that some judgments passed by the superior courts failed to withstand the test at the level of international judicial forums where Pakistan had to face embarrassment as well as monetary loss. A classic example that brought us international embarrassment was the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision in the Reko Diq case wherein the country was slapped with a $6 billion penalty, while in the Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim A.S case, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Tribunal disagreed with the Supreme Court’s findings and concluded that there was no specific corruption.

Although the Constitution is very clear about separation of powers in determining functions and boundaries of each organ of the state to avoid any conflict, it appears that our judiciary has used unbridled suo motu powers.

Their recent involvement in executive matters which continues till today started consequent to lawyers’ movement for restoration of judiciary. Checks and balances for use of these powers is weak and there is no certainty of accountability. Even the Superior Judicial Council’s role raises many questions about its credibility. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and Justic Faez Isa cases are quoted as prime examples.

Each organ of the state needs to operate within its boundaries. Independence of the judiciary is important for rule of law but subject to accountability. The honourable judges of the superior courts are requested to review their performance, conduct, and the quality of justice being dispensed.

Their appointments and removal should be made through parliament after comprehensive public hearings and screening and not by chief justices or judges. The parliament should also establish a supervisory board of retired judges of impeccable repute to check the performance of each judge with reference to their conduct and judgements. Without introducing these vital judicial reforms, Pakistan cannot achieve political as well as economic stability.

(Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul Haq, lawyers and partners of Huzaima, Ikram & Ijaz, are Adjunct Faculty at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), members Advisory Board and Visiting Senior Fellows of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). Abdul Rauf Shakoori is a corporate lawyer based in the USA and an expert in ‘White Collar Crimes for and Sanctions Compliance’)

(This newspaper holds judiciary in high esteem; and it has great faith in the independence of judiciary because it is its firm belief that an independent judiciary is necessary for a free society and a constitutional democracy. The view expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the newspaper.)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022

Huzaima Bukhari

The writer is a lawyer and author of many books, and Adjunct Faculty at Lahore University of management Sciences (LUMS), member of Advisory Board and Visiting Senior Fellow of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). She can be reached at [email protected]

Dr Ikramul Haq

The writer is a lawyer and author of many books, and Adjunct Faculty at Lahore University of management Sciences (LUMS) as well as member of Advisory Board and Visiting Senior Fellow of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE). He can be reached at [email protected]

Abdul Rauf Shakoori

The writer is a US-based corporate lawyer, and specialises in white collar crimes and sanctions compliance. He has written several books on corporate and taxation laws of Pakistan. He can be reached at [email protected]

Comments

Comments are closed.