A report citing FIDH alleges Pakistan’s judiciary has become an extension of the security state, highlighting judicial corruption, constitutional amendments, case backlogs, and selective accountability. The findings raise serious concerns over judicial independence, rule of law, and access to justice in Pakistan.
A report citing findings from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has alleged that Pakistan’s judiciary has increasingly become an extension of the country’s security apparatus rather than an independent institution tasked with safeguarding constitutional rights and the rule of law.
According to an article published by One World Outlook, the report titled Under the Bench: Mapping Corruption Risks in Pakistan’s Justice System presents a detailed assessment of judicial corruption, institutional weaknesses, and constitutional developments that it claims have undermined judicial independence in Pakistan.
The report states that Pakistan currently has an estimated 2.4 million pending court cases nationwide, creating significant delays in the delivery of justice. It notes that the country ranks 101st out of 143 nations in criminal justice and 129th in civil justice in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, reflecting longstanding challenges within the legal system.
The article argues that such an extensive backlog has transformed judicial delays into opportunities for corruption. It alleges that court hearing dates, First Information Reports (FIRs), and even the handling of evidence can be influenced through financial means, effectively making justice accessible primarily to those with sufficient resources.
Rather than describing the situation solely as institutional inefficiency, the report contends that justice has become a commodity, available to those who can afford it while remaining out of reach for economically disadvantaged citizens.
A major focus of the report is the constitutional restructuring undertaken in recent years. It claims that Pakistan’s 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, passed in 2024 and 2025 respectively, have significantly reduced judicial independence.
According to the findings cited, the amendments introduced Members of Parliament into the judicial appointment process, expanded the powers of a judicial council to remove judges on grounds including the broadly defined term “inefficiency,” and established a Federal Constitutional Court whose leadership is effectively determined by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The report also raises concerns regarding blasphemy-related prosecutions. It states that nearly 800 individuals were detained on blasphemy charges during 2024, with most detainees reportedly belonging to economically disadvantaged or minority communities. It further claims that conviction rates in such cases approach 95 percent, attributing the outcome to judicial reluctance to challenge extremist pressure and to limited legal resources available to defendants.
Additionally, the report examines the functioning of institutions established to combat corruption and ensure judicial accountability, including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the Supreme Judicial Council. It alleges that these bodies are frequently viewed by legal observers as instruments of selective enforcement rather than impartial oversight mechanisms.
The article further claims that journalists, activists, and whistleblowers attempting to expose alleged judicial misconduct face increasing legal risks through defamation laws and cybercrime legislation, creating what it describes as an environment that discourages scrutiny of state institutions.
| Also Read: Bangladesh floods kill 51, over one million affected |
The findings presented in the report have renewed international attention on concerns surrounding Pakistan’s judicial system, judicial independence, accountability mechanisms, and broader issues relating to the rule of law. The report calls for institutional reforms aimed at strengthening judicial autonomy, reducing corruption risks, improving transparency, and ensuring equal access to justice for all citizens.
