ARTICLE

THE ROLE OF JUDICIAL ACTIVISM IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN PAKISTAN AND ITS IMPACTS ON GOVERNANCE IN PAKISTAN

  1. HOME
  2. ARTICLE

01 Pages : 1-14

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/glsr.2024(IX-III).01      10.31703/glsr.2024(IX-III).01      Published : Sep 2024

The Role of Judicial Activism in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Pakistan and its Impacts on Governance in Pakistan

Abstract

    This study examines how judicial activism impacts governance in Pakistan after the lawyer's movement with a focus on its effect on human rights, the rule of law, and accountability. The study uses mixed techniques to examine Supreme Court decisions and interventions that demonstrate the judiciary's role in protecting civil liberties and checking executive powers. Apex Court's activism on extrajudicial killings forced disappearances, and gender discrimination has advanced human rights, according to the findings. The research also shows how the judiciary has strengthened the rule of law by upholding and enforcing legal principles fairly, boosting public faith in legal institutions. The research also notes that alleged judicial overreach has caused problems between the legislative and executive branches due to the courts' wide interpretations of their authority. This detailed analysis highlights the delicate balance between judicial interventions and democratic government. 

    Governance, Human Rights, Judicial Activism, Accountability, Rule of Law

    (1) Lubna Ghulam Sarwar
    PhD Scholar, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Mian M Azhar
    Chairman, Department of Political Science, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Mirza Shahid Rizwan Baig
    Assistant professor, Department of Law, Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Fulltext PDF

References

  • Amanullah. (2018). Public interest litigation: A constitutional regime to access justice in Pakistan. Journal of Pakistan Vision, 19(2), 168-181. https://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/studies/PDF-FILES/Article_12_v19_2_18.pdf

  • Amir, F., Muhammad, A., & Jan, J. (2022). JUDICIAL ACTIVISM AT THE COST OF SEPARATION OF POWER IN PAKISTAN: a COMPARISON OF JUSTICE IFTIKHAR CHAUDHRY AND JUSTICE SAQIB NISAR’S ERA. Pakistan Journal of Social Research, 04(03), 589–598. https://doi.org/10.52567/pjsr.v4i03.748 
  • Athem, F. A. (2002). The Role of the Judiciary in the Protection of Human Rights and Development: A Middle Eastern Perspective. Fordham International Law Journal, 26(3). https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/ilj/vol26/iss3/8 
  • Choonara, S. (2011). NCHR of Pakistan: Report to the regional NHRI project on inclusion, the right to health, and SOGI. National Commission of Human Rights in Pakistan, UNDP. Bangkok: International Development Law Organization. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/Pakistan%20national%20report%205.pdf
  • Fatima, S., Bilal, M., & Khokhar, F. (2022). Executive Intervention in judicial independence in Pakistan: An overview of the past. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4144186 
  • Gupta, M. G. (2022). Judicial Activism: A Comparative Study Of India, South Africa And Pakistan. Indian Law Journal and Legal Research, 6(3), 2582-8878. https://www.ijllr.com/post/judicial-activism-a-comparative-study-of-india-south-africa-and-pakistan 
  • Hariss, I. B. (2021, April 22). The Supreme Court of Pakistan's suo motu (own initiative) combat against the pandemic. Lex Atlas C19. https://lexatlas-c19.org/the-supreme-court-of-pakistans-suo-motu-combat-against-the-pandemic/
  • Hassan, F. (2006). Pakistan’s federal structure and the Constitution of 1973. The Muslim World, 96(2), 269–286. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1478-1913.2006.00128.x 
  • Hassan, M. (2019). State of human rights in Pakistan 2018. Annual report. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. https://hrcp-web.org/hrcpweb/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2019-State-of-human-rights-in-2018-EN.pdf
  • Hirschl, R. (2006). The new constitutionalism and the judicialization of pure politics worldwide. Fordham Law Review, 75(2), 721. https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/flr/vol75/iss2/14/
  • Human Rights Watch. (2023). Human Rights World Report 2023: Pakistan. World Report. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/pakistan
  • Imam, D. S. (2023, October 5). Good governance—An elusive dream in Pakistan. Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan: Centre for Governance Research (CGR). https://cgr.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Good-Governance-Issue-Paper.pdf
  • Imran Ali v. State. (2018). Supreme Court of Pakistan. https://www.pakistanlawsite.com/login/check
  • Karachi Law and Order Case, 16 (Supreme Court Of Pakistan 2011). https://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/downloads_judgements/S.M.C.16of2011dt.4.4.2013.pdf 
  • Kaufmann, D., Kraay, A., & Mastruzzi, M. (2005). Governance Matters IV: Governance Indicators for 1996-2004. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.718081 
  • Kennedy, C. H. (2012). The judicialization of politics in Pakistan. 
  • Khan, M. S. (2015). Genesis and evolution of public interest litigation in the Supreme Court of Pakistan: Toward a dynamic theory of judicialization. Temple International Comparative Law Journal, 29(1)
  • Mohsin, A. (2019). Suo motu action: An elusive criteria. PCL Student Journal of Law.
  • Muhammad Nawaz, M. S. (2019). Assessing the Freedom of Judiciary in Pakistan during 20th Century. Journal of Historical Studies, 5(2), 146-173. 
  • Munir, K. (2020). Judicial Activisim in Pakistan a case study of supreme court judgments2008-2013. A Research Journal of South Asian Studies, 23(2), 321-334. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343207491_Judicial_Activism_in_Pakistan_A_Case_Study_of_Supreme_Court_Judgments_2008-13 
  • OCHCR. (2018, January 12). Good governance and human rights. HR, Good Governance and Human Rights.
  • Omer, R. (2013). Authority without accountability: The search for justice in Pakistan. International Commission of Jurists. Geneva. https://www.refworld.org/reference/countryrep/icjurists/2013/en/98282
  • Omer, R. (2013). Justice for Pakistan’s ‘disappeared’. International Commission of Jurists. https://www.icj.org/resource/justice-for-pakistans-disappeared/
  • Rizvi, Z. H. (2015). Some issues of governance in Pakistan (p. 14). Social Policy and Development Centre. https://www.spdc.org.pk/assets/upload/CP-39.pdf
  • Shoukat Hayat Khan, D. Z. (2023). Constitutionalism and judicial activism: Transforming authority in Pakistan. Russian Law Journal, 11(4), 659-677. https://www.russianlawjournal.org/index.php/journal/article/download/2555/1441
  • Sohail, R. (2019, August 19). Tribune take: Supreme decisions of 2018. The Express Tribune. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1868672/tribune-take-supreme-decisions-2018
  • Suo moto action regarding combating the pandemic of Corona, Case no 1 (SC 2020).
  • Syeda Mina Faisal, M. A. (2023). Exploring the impact of judicial hyper-activism on society and media in Pakistan: A qualitative study. Russian Journal of Law, 5, 52.
  • The Global Economy. (2022). Pakistan: Human rights and rule of law index. https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/Pakistan/human_rights_rule_law_index/
  • United Nations. (2015). United Nations System Task Team on the post-2015 UN development agenda. https://www.un.org/ohrlls/news/un-system-task-team-post-2015-un-development-agenda-2012
  • World Justice Project. (2023). WJP rule of law index. https://worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/global/2023

Cite this article

APA

    APA : Sarwar, L. G., Azhar, M. M., & Baig, M. S. R. (2024). The Role of Judicial Activism in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Pakistan and its Impacts on Governance in Pakistan. Global Legal Studies Review, IX(III), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.31703/glsr.2024(IX-III).01

CHICAGO

    CHICAGO : Sarwar, Lubna Ghulam, Mian M Azhar, and Mirza Shahid Rizwan Baig. 2024. "The Role of Judicial Activism in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Pakistan and its Impacts on Governance in Pakistan." Global Legal Studies Review, IX (III): 1-14 doi: 10.31703/glsr.2024(IX-III).01

HARVARD

    HARVARD : SARWAR, L. G., AZHAR, M. M. & BAIG, M. S. R. 2024. The Role of Judicial Activism in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Pakistan and its Impacts on Governance in Pakistan. Global Legal Studies Review, IX, 1-14.

MHRA

    MHRA : Sarwar, Lubna Ghulam, Mian M Azhar, and Mirza Shahid Rizwan Baig. 2024. "The Role of Judicial Activism in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Pakistan and its Impacts on Governance in Pakistan." Global Legal Studies Review, IX: 1-14

MLA

    MLA : Sarwar, Lubna Ghulam, Mian M Azhar, and Mirza Shahid Rizwan Baig. "The Role of Judicial Activism in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Pakistan and its Impacts on Governance in Pakistan." Global Legal Studies Review, IX.III (2024): 1-14 Print.

OXFORD

    OXFORD : Sarwar, Lubna Ghulam, Azhar, Mian M, and Baig, Mirza Shahid Rizwan (2024), "The Role of Judicial Activism in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Pakistan and its Impacts on Governance in Pakistan", Global Legal Studies Review, IX (III), 1-14

TURABIAN

    TURABIAN : Sarwar, Lubna Ghulam, Mian M Azhar, and Mirza Shahid Rizwan Baig. "The Role of Judicial Activism in the Enforcement of Human Rights in Pakistan and its Impacts on Governance in Pakistan." Global Legal Studies Review IX, no. III (2024): 1-14. https://doi.org/10.31703/glsr.2024(IX-III).01