TI’s report on graft in judiciary: PHC appoints amicus curiae in case

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday appointed a senior lawyer as amicus curiae (friend of court) for assistance in a case pertaining to a report of the Transparency International, which had termed judiciary the second most corrupt sector in the country.

A single PHC bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan heard the case. A member of the Board of Trustee of the Transparency International appeared before the bench. The chief justice told the member of the Board of Trustee that the court would review the report and seek further details from the Transparency International if needed.

The bench appointed a senior lawyer as amicus curiae to assist the court in the case. The member, Board of Trustee, requested the court that they were busy due to the election-related developments, therefore, a date for hearing into the case should be fixed after the general elections slated for February 8.

The chief justice said that the next hearing would take place on January 29 at 3pm as the lawyer, who was appointed as amicus curiae, was available at the mentioned time only. It may be mentioned that the PHC chief justice had taken exception to the results of a survey conducted by the Transparency International that had termed judiciary the second most corrupt sector in the country.

At the previous hearing, the PHC chief justice had asked the Transparency International to provide evidence about the prevalence of corruption in the judiciary so that action could be taken against whoever was involved in corrupt practices.

He had asked on what basis the judiciary had been declared the second most corrupt sector.The member had told the court that the survey was conducted on the basis of opinions shared by the people.