Ethical Policy

Federal Law Journal expects the highest standards of integrityfrom its research officers, Editorial Board members and authors. It regards any kind of academic misconduct as an extremely serious matter.

• Researchers or authors must not, by implication or otherwise, represent the work of others as their own, represent work done in collaboration with others as their own unaided work or present work for assessment which suggests that factual information has been collected that has not in fact been collected or which falsifies factual information. All sources, whether published books or articles or unpublished material of any kind, must be explicitly acknowledged, and quotations or close paraphrases correctly attributed. Authors are expected to familiarize themselves and conform to the code of Practice on Research Integrity.
• Any paper submitted for publication must be in line with the law and basic values of the society to promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary and justice system of Pakistan.
• Researchers and authors should maintain the highest level of confidentiality and shall never disclose to any person any confidential information received in the course of data collection unless such disclosure is legally required in the discharge of lawful duties. Information obtained in the course of research or paper that may reveal the identity of a participant is treated as confidential unless the participant agrees to its release. Researchers must accept responsibility for the design, methodology and execution of the research, validity of the findings and the limitations of the findings and where applicable, possible alternative interpretations.
• The right of researchers to select from a variety of paradigms, methods and techniques is acknowledged, as long as they are relevant to and promote the administration of justice, legal reforms and judicial education.
• In the planning and execution of a study, the researchers must take into consideration the ethical acceptability and the foreseeable consequences of the research.
• In Relationship to participants: If the research involves some primary data collection from different groups or individuals, before participation in research is requested, the researcher must inform participants about all aspects of the research – including its aims and implications – which might reasonably be expected to influence their willingness to participate. Information sheet to be provided along with consent form to avoid any such issues.
• The researchers must respect the right of individuals to refuse to participate in research and to withdraw their participation at any stage.
• Federal Law Journal understands the nature of risks involved in certain researches related to criminal law or similar studies and therefore suggests its researchers to protect participants against foreseeable physical, psychological or social harm or suffering that might be experienced in the course of, or as a result of the research. The researchers should be particularly concerned about the rights or interests of more vulnerable participants, such as women, children, transgender and the aged. When a research has unforeseen and undesirable consequences, the researcher is responsible for identifying, and where possible, undoing these consequences.
• Researchers must at all times accept ethical, social and scientific responsibility for the research they conduct or manage. All researchers should evaluate the potential impact of their research on the environment, and declare its possible impact.

The Federal Law Journal’s research ethics policy will at all times recognize and apply the national laws on intellectual property and protection thereof.