WJP releases justice perception survey in Pakistan, Afganistan

The World Justice Project (WJP) has published its findings in a survey conducted on rule of law perception in Pakistan and Afganistan.  In an emailed newsletter dated May 11, 2018, the WJP said the survey reports features the voices of nearly 8, 000 people in Pakistan and Afganistan. “The report is based on extended household […]

The World Justice Project (WJP) has published its findings in a survey conducted on rule of law perception in Pakistan and Afganistan. 

In an emailed newsletter dated May 11, 2018, the WJP said the survey reports features the voices of nearly 8, 000 people in Pakistan and Afganistan.

“The report is based on extended household designed to capture experiences and perceptions of ordinary citizens in areas such as government accountability, bribery and corruption, crime, access to justice, and more,” the newsletter states.

The study was conducted in Pakistan between August and December 2017 through face-to-face interviews in 2, 010 households distributed proportionally across five urban areas of Faisalabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta, with a separate survey using the same methodology to compile respondents’ views on experiences related to dispute resolution, legal awareness, legal identity, household dynamics, and gender issues.

Findings among Pakistanis showed high degree of trust in fellow citizens, the courts with the least trust in the police, and petty bribery deemed to be pervasive. 

“More than half of Pakistanis have paid a bribe to receive assistance from the police and a quarter have paid a bribe to process a government permit. Since 2013, there has been an overall decrease in bribes paid to a police officer, to process a government permit, and to receive medical attention at a public hospital.”

For Afghanistan, the survey was conducted in August and September 2017 through face-to-face interviews in 3,773 urban and rural households distributed proportionally across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. 

The study found that Afghans believe that a significant number of authorities are involved in corrupt practices, with judges and magistrates perceived to be the most corrupt authority. There are however perception gaps for women’s role in the community and household dynamics.