IMF team, PBC, SCBAP leadership discuss a range of topics including corruption & foreign investment
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (EPI): International Monetary Fund (IMF) team on Friday has discussed a range of topics with leadership of Pakistani legal fetenity, with a primary focus on eradicating corrupt practices to create an inclusive environment for attracting foreign investment into Pakistan.
Today, Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta, President, Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP), met with representatives from the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Islamabad.
He was accompanied by Hassan Raza Pasha, Member Pakistan Bar Council, Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan, Additional Secretary SCBAP, and Mir Attaullah Langove, President High Court Bar Association, Baluchistan. The meeting took place in a positive atmosphere.
Lasting over an hour, the meeting covered a range of topics, with a primary focus on eradicating corrupt practices to create an inclusive environment for attracting foreign investment into Pakistan.
President SCBAP addressed the shortcomings in the judicial system, such as the backlog of cases in lower and district courts, the insufficient number of judges, inefficiencies within departments, and potential measures like Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to alleviate the burden on the courts and enhance public access to justice.
Additionally, various strategies were discussed to combat corruption in government departments, promote good governance, and implement legal reforms that would benefit the judicial hierarchy, all of which are essential for fostering a stronger and more vibrant economy as well as for the efficient judicial system.
In this context, the President emphasized the need for measures to eradicate financial crimes to boost the economy.
At this juncture, President SCBAP noted that a system of punishment and reward is already in place within the judicial system, where the Supreme Judicial Council (as per the constitution) addresses complaints against judges of the higher judiciary, while respective high courts handle issues related to district judges.
He cited a recent example of a sitting Supreme Court judge who was removed from office due to a complaint filed with the SJC, last year.
The President SCBAP described the rule of law as a cornerstone of a democratic society and reaffirmed his commitment to uphold it, along with the SCBAP’s dedication to the Constitution, the supremacy of institutions, and the independence of the judiciary.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing gratitude and a desire for more frequent meetings in the future.
Meanwhile PBC statement says that Hassan Raza Pasha, Chairman, Special Committee on Judicial Reforms, Pakistan Bar Council, met today to officials of IMF Governance Diagnostic Assessment Scoping Mission, on their request, who is visiting Pakistan now a days.
The discussion was made with IMF Mission regarding legal matters and backlog of cases in superior courts and to implement legal reforms for efficient working of the judicial system.
The IMF Mission expressed their concerns that Business matters particularly relating to investments are challenged in Courts, which remain pending for long time and decisions are not passed timely, which ultimately affect the economy of Pakistan.
He informed them that the cases including business matters will be resolved through Mediation/Alternate Dispute Resolution, under which the parties may resolve their matters without delay.
The Government and Superior Courts have supported it, which will improve the efficiency of Courts, reduce the backlog of cases and will help the economy to grow. He suggested that strength of Judges of lower Judiciary should be enhanced to finish the backlog of cases.
He requested the IMF officials to reduce the conditions imposed upon Pakistan under which Government has imposed heavy taxes, so that Government may be able to reduce the taxes for ultimate benefit of the people of Pakistan, since due to heavy taxes common man is facing much difficulties in the shape of price hike.
Ends-Exact Press International-