Pakistan has been ranked as the third-worst country out of 142 in terms of law and order in a new report by the World Justice Project (WJP). The 2024 Rule of Law Index ranks nations based on various factors including constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, order and security, regulatory enforcement, civil justice, and criminal justice.
In this report, Pakistan was ranked 140th for order and security, with only Mali and Nigeria ranking lower. The overall ranking for Pakistan was 129 out of 142. Among the six South Asian states, Pakistan and Afghanistan were at the bottom of the index.
Despite a global decline in the rule of law for the seventh consecutive year, there has been some progress noted. The report highlighted improvements in anti-corruption efforts and the criminal justice system in many countries. However, challenges remain in areas such as civil justice and governmental checks and balances.
While the decline in the rule of law has slowed, efforts must be doubled to expand these gains globally. The report also touched upon electoral transparency, noting that some countries with improved rankings saw new democratically elected governments come into power in recent elections.
Overall, the report suggests that progress is possible and that there is room for improvement in creating more just and secure societies worldwide.