The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) technical team, currently in Pakistan to review the judicial and regulatory framework under the $7 billion bailout deal, met Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi on Tuesday to discuss programme implementation and property rights.
Meanwhile, Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar clarified that such meetings were considered part of the IMF and World Bank’s usual scope of work.
The IMF team is visiting the country for a week-long scrutiny of the judicial and regulatory system as part of the ongoing $7bn Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to address governance and corruption vulnerabilities.
It will examine six key governance-related sectors and institutions, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance.
According to a press release by the Surpeme Court, the CJP provided an overview of “the ongoing efforts to enhance judicial performance.”
He further informed the mission that the “judiciary in Pakistan is independent, and being head of the institution, it is his responsibility to protect the independence,” the statement read, adding that CJP Afridi also highlighted that the judiciary was not used to direct interactions with missions.
CJP Afridi also stated he would be “quite guarded” when it came to his comments and views.
According to the statement, he also “highlighted key constitutional developments with respect to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and reforms, including senior-level judicial appointments, judicial accountability, and the restructuring of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP)”.
He went on to elaborate on the “merits of integrating the judiciary and the parliamentary committee to ensure a more transparent and efficient judicial selection process.”
CJP Yahya also informed the delegation that the Supreme Court was in the “process of finalising a critical agenda for the upcoming NJPMC meeting expected in the last week of February.”
“Discussions during the meeting also centered on judicial accountability and the mechanisms for addressing complaints against judges,” the report said, adding that the country’s chief justice also underscored on “the importance of a robust and fair accountability process” for the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
Meanwhile, the IMF team recognised the judiciary’s role “in maintaining legal and institutional stability,” expressing its appreciation for the ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening governance and accountability.
