The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has warned that judicial corruption in Pakistan has reached a systemic scale that may amount to grand corruption, with the country's justice system increasingly vulnerable to political influence and institutional capture. The findings, published in a report titled 'Under the Bench: Mapping Corruption Risks in Pakistan's Justice System', carry serious human rights implications — particularly for low-income communities and minorities.

Key Findings of the Report

The FIDH report, based on interviews with 30 interlocutors — including lawyers, former and retired judges, journalists, and civil society representatives — concludes that corruption has become endemic throughout Pakistan's judicial system. It identifies three inter-related enabling factors: weak administration of justice across all levels, leading to bribery and corrupt practices; cultural dynamics that encourage favouritism and nepotism; and the erosion of judicial independence, resulting in what the report terms 'state capture' of the superior judiciary.

The report states that accountability institutions have been increasingly politicised and deployed for political victimisation rather than as mechanisms to address systemic corruption.

Constitutional Amendments Under Scrutiny

According to the report, the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments have had a negative impact on judicial independence and the protection of fair trial rights in Pakistan. It describes these developments as a 'regressive shift' in the country's legal and constitutional order, stripping away what limited independence the judiciary previously held. Judicial appointments, bench formation, and high-level case management now reportedly face political influence that contradicts international standards for judicial independence.

Human Rights Implications

The FIDH warned that the deteriorating state of Pakistan's judiciary has direct human rights consequences, including violations of due process and equality before the law. The report notes that low-income communities and minorities are disproportionately affected. It further states that Pakistan's democratic institutions — including the judiciary — have faced gradual weakening and capture by the executive branch over several years, accompanied by 'severe repression of fundamental freedoms' facilitated by repressive legislation.

'In this context, the judiciary has become a tool for repression and silencing of activists and dissidents,' the report stated.

Broader Context

This report arrives amid sustained international scrutiny of Pakistan's governance and rule-of-law frameworks. The FIDH's assessment aligns with concerns raised by several legal observers and civil society groups within Pakistan about the pace of institutional erosion. Notably, the report's findings were covered prominently by leading Pakistani daily Dawn, signalling domestic acknowledgement of the critique. The report adds to a growing body of documentation suggesting that the structural challenges facing Pakistan's judiciary extend well beyond individual misconduct to encompass systemic and politically enabled dysfunction.

Whether the Pakistani government responds to the FIDH's recommendations — or contests them — will be closely watched by international human rights bodies in the months ahead.