SUPERIOR JUDGES’ COMMITMENT TO JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Independence of judiciary cannot depend solely on the structure of the government and the judiciary’s formal role within it. It also depends on the judges themselves. This paper aims at examining the judicial commitment to independence of judiciary in Pakistan. This study covers collective role as well as individual role of the judges of the superior courts in Pakistan from 1947 till the restoration of Judges in March 2009. It elaborates the importance of integrity and character of the individual judges for judicial independence. This paper critically studies the role of those judges who by their behaviour undermined the independence of the judiciary and severely damaged the confidence of the public in the judiciary of Pakistan.