Pakistan's Struggle for Judicial Independence

Title: Pakistan's Struggle for Judicial Independence


Summary:

Since former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was reinstated, the idea of judicial independence in Pakistan has become increasingly popular. Due to its strong relationship to the upholding of fundamental rights and the rule of law, judicial independence is regarded as a fundamental value of the Pakistani Constitution. There are worries that the Supreme Court of Pakistan's understanding of judicial independence has been exploited to shield superior courts from accountability and consolidate too much authority in the Chief Justice's office. Examples include the 18th Amendment case, in which the Chief Justice was given the authority to control Supreme Court nominations, and the decision to withhold information regarding the activities of the Supreme Judicial Council in order to protect judicial independence. Due to these actions, some people now question the judiciary's actual independence and believe that judges are involved in political intrigues. The independence of the court looks to be in jeopardy in practice, highlighting the need for change to establish a more open and accountable judicial system.

Reference: Omer, R. (2023, September 9). The Challenge of Judicial Independence in Pakistan. Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/news/1774810/judicial-independence