TI calls for the Government of Pakistan to reinstate unconstitutionally dismissed judges

The Annual Meeting of Transparency International (TI) Asia Pacific chapters, held in Manila, Philippines, calls on the Government of Pakistan to reinstate the deposed judges who were unconstitutionally dismissed on 3 November 2007.

The termination of these judges critically weakens the effective functioning of the judicial sector. The judiciary is a key institution safeguarding the rule of law, accountability of governing institutions and the prevention of corruption.

Promoting judicial integrity is a vital principle contained in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), to which Pakistan is a state party. The problem also exists in many other TI Asia Pacific countries, and failure to respect the safeguards for the independence of judges undermines their integrity.

The Meeting therefore calls on the authorities in Pakistan to respect the constitutional provision for the judiciary to function independently and to reinstate the dismissed judges.