Legitimacy of the courts: evidence from a survey in Punjab, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Procedural justice is generally considered a primary indicator by which legal authorities, such as police and courts, establish legitimacy. However, considering the context of the criminal justice system in Pakistan, this paper examines whether the perceptions of accurate verdicts, along with perceptions of procedural justice, are associated with the perceptions of legitimacy of the courts. The data for this cross-sectional study come from an online survey of the general population in Punjab, Pakistan. The results of the multiple regression models affirm the study hypotheses. The findings suggest that people are judgemental; they not only evaluate whether the authorities (judges) act procedurally in just ways during encounters with the public but also retrospectively keep a record of previous memories regarding court verdicts. These memories shape their perceptions of whether the authorities are legitimate.

KEYWORDS:

• Accurate verdicts
• courts
• legitimacy
• procedural justice
• Pakistan

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The confessional interview can be watched at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5sqlPKyYPY

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Muhammad Asif

Muhammad Asif is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. His research interests include legitimacy, violence, lynching and vigilantism.

Hina Fazal

Hina Fazal is a Lecturer in Sociology at Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Her research interest includes judicial system and police violence in Pakistan.

Muhammad Siddique Akbar

Muhammad Siddique Akbar is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at University of the Punjab, Lahore. His research interests span over social and political trust, crisis, disaster and risk.