— O. III, R. 10 — Duty of Registrar to fix dates of hearing — Irregularities in the fixation of cases in the Supreme Court — Scope — Review petitions and applications had been filed in early 2019 but were not fixed for several years — During this period, the other signatory to the Judgment, Mushir Alam, J, had retired — The concerned officers of the Supreme Court were asked to submit a report regarding the non-fixation of these matters in Court — The Additional Registrar (Fixture) and the Additional Registrar (Judicial) had jointly reported that usually, review petitions are fixed on priority before the same Bench or in which at least the Author Judge is a member — Additionally, important cases were historically fixed before the Court after approval from former HCJs — The records showed that review petitions were added in the draft of Final Cause List for the first time on 25.04.2019 at 01:12 P.M — However, they were removed from the draft list on 25.04.2019 at 05:06 P.M. as per the direction given by the then HCJ — In acknowledging the manipulation in the Supreme Court, it humbly admitted to not fixing the petitions and applications — The Supreme Court aimed to regain the people’s confidence, demonstrating a commitment to preventing the repetition of past mistakes — Supreme Court observed that the acknowledgment aimed to uphold truth, strengthen institutions, and ensure the people of Pakistan receive the justice they deserve — It had been long overdue for every institution to act transparently and responsibly — Acknowledging wrongdoing was incumbent, as ignoring it or offering a bare denial, when the facts suggested otherwise, would have been living a lie and perpetuating it — Such actions would have been against the public interest, particularly considering that public institutions are funded by the people’s taxes — The lack of trust in public institutions was emphasized as a threat to democracy, and individuals overshadowing their institutions were noted to cause irreparable harm, diminishing the institution and rendering it as their alter ego. [2024 SCLR 4 = 2023 SCP 353 = 2024 SCMR 8]