On Monday, a meeting was held between the Mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Association of Lawyers of the Pakistan Supreme Court (SCBAP) to address critical issues that affect the judicial system of Pakistan and its broader economic environment.
The meeting, led by the president of SCBAP, Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta, focused on improving judicial efficiency, the application of contracts and the protection of property rights: key areas that the IMF believes that foreign investment and economic growth directly affect.
The presidents of the Bar Associations of the Superior Court of Baluchistan and Sindh, Mir Atta Ullah Langove and Barrimer Sarfraz Metlo attended the meeting, respectively. The session lasted more than an hour and discussed several areas of concern, particularly judicial efficiency, that the IMF mission stood out as a central theme.
The president of SCBAP described continuous efforts to improve judicial efficiency in Pakistan. He observed the introduction of an electronic presentation system by the president of the president of Pakistan (CJP), which replaces the traditional presentation system, as well as the improvements in case management to accelerate the elimination of pending cases. In addition, the introduction of video link facilities in the Supreme Court aims to optimize operations and reduce delays.
In addition, the president of SCBAP highlighted the 26th Constitutional amendment recently introduced, whose objective is to improve independence and judicial efficiency. According to this amendment, a constitutional bank has formed to handle complex political and constitutional cases, thus reducing judicial congestion for regular work.
Another important initiative discussed was the institutional system that monitors the performance of the judges, with an approach in improving the responsibility and effectiveness of the Judiciary at all levels.
In terms of contract application, the IMF mission raised concerns about procedural delays and inefficiencies. The president of SCBAP responded by recognizing the problem, but assured the mission that the Government is working to create an environment conducive to attract foreign investments. Specialized courts and banks are being established to specifically address contracts for contract application.
With respect to property rights, the mission was informed that articles 23 and 24 of the Pakistan Constitution safeguard the right to possess properties, and efforts are being made to strengthen anti-separration laws and application mechanisms.
The meeting concluded with both parties by emphasizing the need for economic and political stability, as well as a good government, to address the challenges facing the judicial system and improve the Pakistan investment climate. The president of SCBAP emphasized that the rule of law is the cornerstone to achieve these objectives.
The IMF mission agreed to track a questionnaire on the topics discussed with the SCBAP, looking for detailed answers together with proposals and suggestions to address the proposed concerns.
