Complaint & Misconduct Policy

Complaints and Misconduct Policy

The Pakistan Journal of Law and Policy welcomes complaints and concerns relating to its editorial processes, published content, and publication practices. The journal regards well-founded complaints as an opportunity to identify shortcomings, improve editorial procedures, and maintain high standards of scholarly publishing, research integrity, and publication ethics.

The journal is committed to handling complaints promptly, fairly, transparently, and confidentially, while ensuring that complainants are treated respectfully and without prejudice.

What Constitutes a Complaint?

For the purposes of this policy, a complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction concerning an action, decision, procedure, or conduct for which the Pakistan Journal of Law and Policy has editorial or publishing responsibility.

A complaint may relate, for example, to:

• Unreasonable or unexplained delays in the editorial or peer-review process;

• Concerns regarding editorial conduct, communication, or professionalism;

• Alleged failures to follow the journal's published policies or procedures;

• Concerns regarding the handling of manuscripts, peer review, or publication decisions;

• Alleged errors, inaccuracies, or serious problems in published content;

• Allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or other forms of research or publication misconduct;

• Undisclosed conflicts of interest or concerns regarding editorial independence; or

• Other substantial concerns relating to the journal's editorial or publishing processes.

A disagreement with an editorial decision does not, by itself, constitute a complaint. However, concerns that an editorial decision resulted from a significant procedural failure, conflict of interest, inappropriate conduct, or other serious irregularity may be raised through the complaints process.

Submission and Handling of Complaints

Complaints should be submitted in writing to the journal's editorial office through the official contact details provided on the journal's website. Where appropriate, the complaint should include sufficient information and supporting evidence to enable the journal to understand and investigate the matter.

The journal follows the procedure outlined below:

1. Acknowledgement: Complaints will be acknowledged as soon as reasonably practicable.

2. Initial Review: The complaint will initially be reviewed by an appropriate member of the editorial team to determine its nature, scope, and the appropriate course of action.

3. Investigation: Where necessary, the journal will examine relevant records, correspondence, editorial decisions, peer-review reports, published material, and other available evidence.

4. Escalation: Where the matter cannot appropriately be resolved by the initial recipient, it will be referred to the Editor-in-Chief or another appropriate senior editorial authority who is independent of the matter, where practicable.

5. Response: The journal will provide a substantive response as soon as reasonably practicable, taking into account the nature and complexity of the complaint.

6. Corrective Action: Where a complaint is found to be justified, the journal will take appropriate corrective action, which may include correcting the scholarly record, reviewing an editorial procedure, reconsidering a decision where justified, issuing an editorial notice, or taking other measures necessary to address the concern.

7. Record Keeping: The journal will maintain appropriate records of complaints, investigations, decisions, and their resolution in accordance with applicable confidentiality, privacy, and research-integrity requirements.

Complaints Concerning Editors or Editorial Decisions

Where a complaint concerns the conduct or decision of an editor, the matter will, where practicable, be referred to another appropriate senior editorial authority who is independent of the matter being complained about.

Complaints concerning editorial decisions will be considered where the complainant identifies a substantive procedural concern, conflict of interest, ethical issue, or other significant circumstance that may have affected the fairness or integrity of the decision.

The journal does not normally reconsider editorial decisions solely because an author disagrees with the academic assessment or outcome. Any reconsideration will be based on relevant new information, a significant procedural concern, or another legitimate ground for review.

Complaints Concerning Published Content and Research Misconduct

Concerns regarding published articles, including allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, undisclosed conflicts of interest, authorship disputes, inaccurate legal citations, misrepresentation of legal authorities, ethical misconduct, or other serious publication concerns, will be assessed in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement, Plagiarism and Similarity Screening Policy, and other applicable policies.

Where appropriate, the journal may request explanations or supporting evidence from the authors, consult independent experts, or contact relevant institutions, publishers, or other competent authorities.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, the journal may issue a correction, editorial notice, Expression of Concern, or retraction. Any action will be proportionate to the evidence and intended to protect the integrity and transparency of the scholarly record.

Confidentiality and Protection Against Retaliation

The journal will handle complaints confidentially to the extent reasonably possible and consistent with a fair investigation. Information will be shared only with individuals who need it to assess, investigate, or resolve the complaint, subject to applicable legal and ethical obligations.

The journal will not tolerate retaliation, intimidation, or discriminatory treatment against individuals who raise complaints in good faith or participate honestly in an investigation.

Complainants are expected to provide information honestly and responsibly. Deliberately false, malicious, or abusive complaints may be subject to appropriate action.

Anonymous Complaints

The journal may consider anonymous complaints where sufficient information and supporting evidence are provided to permit meaningful assessment or investigation.

However, the journal may be unable to request clarification, verify certain allegations, or provide a direct response where the identity of the complainant or relevant supporting information is unavailable. Anonymous complaints will be assessed on the information and evidence available rather than dismissed solely because the complainant has not disclosed their identity.

External Escalation

If a complaint cannot reasonably be resolved through the journal's internal procedures, the complainant may, where appropriate, seek assistance from the relevant institution, publisher, research organization, professional body, or other competent authority.

The journal will make reasonable efforts to resolve complaints internally and fairly, without preventing complainants from approaching an appropriate external authority where warranted.

Commitment to Fair and Transparent Publishing

The Pakistan Journal of Law and Policy is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, accountable, and respectful publishing environment. Complaints are treated as an important mechanism for identifying weaknesses in editorial practice and strengthening the quality, integrity, and credibility of the journal.

This policy may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, legal research, research integrity, publication ethics, and applicable international standards.

By submitting a manuscript or participating in the journal's editorial and peer-review processes, authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to act in accordance with this policy and the journal's other applicable publication-ethics requirements.