Islamabad:
Founder accusations have arisen by personnel of the Superior Court of Islamabad (IHC) after their transfer.
Regarding the instructions of Judge Babar Sattar, his secretary issued a letter to the registrar that approached the complaints that certain staff members demanded money from the petitioners and lawyers. The letter emphasized that such actions are equivalent to bribery and undermine the principles of justice. Copies of the letter were also sent to the secretaries of all the judges.
The letter stated that immediate action must be taken to eliminate this negligence. The rooms of the courts and corridors of the IHC are under video surveillance. He suggested to review the images of the last two weeks to identify any bribery instance and requested strict disciplinary measures against those who are guilty.
In addition, he highlighted the concerns that some superior courts have tolerated similar practices, which makes the bribery part of its system. However, this culture is not acceptable in the IHC, and any attempt to introduce it must be eradicated.
Despite the signs in some courts of the Court in Pakistan that indicate that demanding money is strictly prohibited, reports indicate that bribery still occurs under these warnings. The letter emphasized that the lack of action could now lead to the deterioration of the integrity of IHC.
The Office of the President of the Interine Justice Sarfaraz Dogar confirmed the reception of the letter and declared that a circular had already been issued in this regard. However, when it was contacted, the registrar’s office did not provide an immediate comment.
