JUDICIAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN PAKISTAN: A CRITICAL STUDY OF SUPREME COURT SUO MOTU JURISDICTION

Abstract

The Constitution 1973, guarantees fundamental human rights (hereinafter HR), and the bench has become a key institution for upholding these rights. Amongst the different jurisdictive mechanisms, the Supreme Court (hereinafter SC) use of suo motu jurisdiction u/a 184(3) has been radical in addressing violations of civil liberties, administrative injustice, exploitation, ecological degradation, compulsory withdrawals, and lawful rights. With an emphasis on constitutional reinforcements, judicial activism, influential cases, and the SC of Pakistan's emerging jurisprudence, this research critically explores the judiciary's role in shielding human rights through suo motu actions. The study practices a qualitative doctrinal approach that magnets from academic literature, precedents, constitutional examination, and current lawful discussions. It contends that in Pakistan, suo motu jurisdiction has enhanced access to fairness and accountability, especially in cases when legislative and executive branches have failed to safeguard vulnerable groups. This article comes to the decision that whenever there is need of changes in institutions and technical limitations are required to assure judicial accountability and legitimate balance, even though suo motu jurisdiction is still a vital constitutional tool for the defense of HR. The study added more towards knowledge on HR, its protection and constitutional supremacy in Pakistan