PHC seeks Transparency’s corruption report

Organisation says judiciary second most corrupt institution in Pakistan

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday took notice of the Transparency International’s report declaring the judiciary the second most corrupt institution in Pakistan, seeking the report and evidence.

A PHC division bench, headed by Chief Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, heard the case.

Transparency International's board member Hashmat Habib Malik appeared in court.

Addressing the board member, the chief justice said: “The judiciary has been declared a corrupt institution in your report. Can you tell us where corruption is taking place? Give us evidence where the corruption is taking place, be it judges or other officers of the judiciary … action will be taken against them.”

CJ Ibrahim said that the Transparency International's report declared the judiciary a corrupt institution. “If your organisation has evidence of this, then present it. If not, then you should withdraw the report.”

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Malik apprised the court that the report was prepared in the context of public opinion and it was evaluated. “Transparency International does not prepare any report by itself.”

The chief justice remarked that first tell the court where the corruption was taking place. “We will start the elimination of this scourge from the high court. In the second stage, we will take action against it in the subordinate courts.”

The chief justice inquired from the board member that in the light of “what evidence you have declared the judiciary the second corrupt institution because it is defaming the judiciary … people are making fun of the judiciary”.

“You tell us where corruption is taking place so that we can reform ourselves and take action against those who are involved in it.”

During the hearing, the lawyers of the organisation – Kamran Hashmat, Buroj Hashmat, and Nadia Hashmat – appeared in the court.

The chief justice asked them where corruption was taking place in the high court. “First tell us that so that we may clean ourselves, then we will talk about the district judiciary.”

Transparency International’s Malik apprised the court that their report was based on the opinion of the people. “We took the opinion of the people and made the report based on that.”

The chief justice said, "Where does corruption take place. We will hold ourselves accountable … where there is a defect we will fix it.”

CJ Ibrahim said, “Any judge, including the chief justice, who is involved in corruption, action will be taken against him. If there is any fault in me, tell me, by God, I will write against myself.

“If even a judge is involved in corruption, we will take action against him according to the law and make him an example.”

Malik apprised the court that they had provided the report to the registrar office. “It will be clear when you read the report.”

The chief justice said, “You should provide us evidence about corruption. Be it judges or other officers of the judiciary, we will take action against them, and give it to us in writing.”

The lawyers of the organisation apprised the court that the report had been provided to the PHC registrar.

“The bench should examine it. There is a lot of information in it because all the reports are prepared based on public opinion. The Transparency International does not establish any opinion by itself. We have prepared the report on the opinion of the public.”

The chief justice said that he will read it himself.

The court adjourned the hearing till Jan 15.