KARACHI: Transparency International Pakistan is awaiting judgment of Peshawar High Court against its Corruption Perception Index published by local media in December 2023 relating to Transparency International survey that ranked judiciary as third most corrupt institution in Pakistan. After hearing case judgment was reserved on February 19, 2024. 

Chief Justice Peshawar High Court, taking notice of it, directed putting on notice Transparency International concerning its report and for personal appearance of responsible officer before Court on Friday December 22, 2023. On direction of Peshawar High Court, member Board of Trustee, TI Pakistan senior lawyer Hashmat Ali Habib appeared before Chief Justice Peshawar High Court on Friday December 22, 2023. It was directed to TI Pakistan that necessary queries for further clarification and insights be submitted to Peshawar High Court before or by January 15, 2024. Court also associated Niaz Ali Shah, Professor at University of Hull UK, as amicus curiae.

According to TI Pakistan, worldwide surveys are based on respondents’ perception which is opinion of respondents. Corruption Perception Index released by Transparency International every year since 1995, ranks 180 countries around world by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. In CPI 2023, Pakistan’s score has improved by 2 points and rank has improved by 7 positions.

Similarly, World Justice Project Rule of Law Index is based on national surveys of more than 138,000 households and 4,200 legal practitioners and experts around world. For Pakistan, Rule of Law Index sample size is 1,000 respondents. Sample size of India and China is also 1,000. In Rule of Law Index 2023, Pakistan is ranked 133 out of 140.

In last 23 years, National Corruption Perception results have never been challenged in any court, which shows that every department takes survey findings seriously. In December 2022, petition was filed in Peshawar High Court, challenging results of NCPS 2022. Commission was formed by Chief Justice Peshawar High Court and headed by District and Session Judge Muhammad Zeb Khan on findings of TI Pakistan NCPS 2022 report declaring Judiciary as most corrupt sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2022.

Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court was pleased to invite representative of TI Pakistan to brief them on anti-corruption measures and obtain TI Pakistan recommendations for implementation. In this regard, an online meeting was held on April 19, 2023. TI Pakistan proposed recommendations based on international best practices and discussed and shared with Peshawar High Court for implementation.

Similarly, on January 15, 2024, High Court of Sindh requested TI Pakistan input on factors on basis whereof rating is made in NCPS 2023 for improvement in Sindh judiciary. In this regard, TI Pakistan shared detailed methodology and proposed recommendations for implementation.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 06 2024

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.