SCBA discusses legal issues with IMF team

ISLAMABAD: President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta along with his team on Friday met here with representatives from the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Islamabad.

The SCBA President, Rauf Atta, covered a range of topics, with a primary focus on eradicating corrupt practices to create an inclusive environment for attracting foreign investment into Pakistan. Rauf Atta raised the backlog of cases in lower and district courts, the insufficient number of judges, inefficiencies within departments, and measures like Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to alleviate the burden on the courts and enhance public access to justice. Additionally, various strategies were also discussed to combat corruption in government departments, promote good governance, and implement legal reforms to benefit the judicial hierarchy, essential for fostering a stronger and more vibrant economy and an efficient judicial system.

The President SCBA also highlighted that a system of punishment and reward is in place where the Supreme Judicial Council addresses the complaints against judges of the higher judiciary, while respective high courts handle issues related to district judges. He described the rule of law as a cornerstone of a democratic society and reaffirmed his commitment to uphold it, along with the SCBA’s dedication to the Constitution, the supremacy of institutions, and the independence of the judiciary, says a press release.