PHC asks TI for evidence of graft in judiciary

PESHAWAR: Taking an exception to the results of a survey conducted by the Transparency International terming the judiciary as the second most corrupt sector in the country, Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan on Friday asked a TI board member to provide evidence about the prevalence of corruption in the judiciary so that action could be taken against whoever was involved in corrupt practices.

During the hearing of a case, the PHC chief justice asked the board member of Transparency International whether he could provide evidence about the corrupt practices believed to be happening in the judiciary. The chief justice asked him on what basis the judiciary had been declared as the second most corrupt sector.

TI’s board member Hashmat Habib Malik told the court that the survey was conducted on the basis of opinion shared by the people. He said the Transparency International did not take any decision, rather the survey was based on public opinion. The survey report had been provided to the office of PHC registrar for the perusal of chief justice, he said. The chief justice said that he would take action if provided proof about corruption in the judiciary, starting from the high court. He said that action would also be taken against the lower judiciary if evidence about corruption was provided.