ICJ congratulates Asma Jahangir on her election as President of the Supreme Court Bar Association in Pakistan
The ICJ congratulates Ms. Asma Jahangir on her election as President of the Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).
Khaki v. Rawalpindi, Supreme Court of Pakistan (12 December 2009)
Procedural Posture A constitutional petition was filed on behalf of hijras (also known as unix or eunuchs) before the Supreme Court. (Editorial Note: Hijra is a term used in South Asia to refer to individuals who adopt a feminine gender identity, including in clothing...
The ICJ welcomes reinstatement of Chief Justice Chaudhry
The ICJ welcomes the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry by the Government of Pakistan.
“The reinstatement of the Chief Justice is an historic milestone in reaffirming the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan,”said Dato Param Cumaraswamy, ICJ Honorary Commissioner and former UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges. “It will help restore public and international confidence in the judicial system, but for this to be effective, the Government must ensure functional independence of the judiciary, without any executive interference in the future.”
Pakistan-reinstatemt-chiefjustice-web story-2009 (full text, PDF)
ICJ urges the government of Pakistan to address the consequences of the rule of law crisis as part of the gradual transition to democracy
The ICJ urged the Government of Pakistan to promptly address the consequences of the rule of law crisis culminating in the 2007 state of emergency. Although the delegation of Pakistan engaged in dialogue about how to better ensure respect of human rights in a number of areas, it often denied the prevalence of major human rights concerns. Pakistan’s steps towards democracy including legislative amendments to improve human rights were welcomed. But the Council’s Working Group failed to offer guidance on how to progress issues relating to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.
Pakistan-ICJ urges the Government of Pakistan-Press releases-2008 (full text, PDF)
ICJ submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan
The ICJ raised in its submission the Government of Pakistan’s failure to fully and effectively ensure and protect human rights and the rule of law in the fight against terrorist acts and to protect people against terrorism.
The ICJ also addressed the issue of the Government’s attacks on the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the legal profession over the last nine months, and especially since 3 November 2007. These concerns should be addressed as a matter of priority in the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of Pakistan.
Pakistan-UPR-advocacy-2008 (full text, PDF)
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