Prominent businessman Amir Awan killed in firing at his house. The case has been registered

Uzair Razzaq Legal Practitioner | Columnist, Exploring Reform and Transparency in Governance.  

In our society, criticizing lawyers, blaming the courts, and cursing the government has almost become a national pastime. It is easy to point fingers at the “system” and declare it broken. But before we condemn the machinery of justice, we must ask ourselves a harder question: are we fulfilling our own responsibilities as citizens and businesspeople? Every day, disputes arise between buyers and sellers, service providers and clients, landlords and tenants. And when these disputes reach a lawyer’s desk, one pattern repeats itself with depressing regularity: the aggrieved party has no evidence to support their claim. They may have been wronged, but they cannot prove it.

 

Ask a client whether there was a written agreement. The answer, more often than not, is: “No, it was just verbal.” Ask how payment was made. The reply: “Cash.” Receipts? Bank transfer slips? Cheques? Any record at all? Silence. Even when a contract exists, it is often a flimsy, copy-pasted template worth a few hundred rupees, used to cover transactions worth millions. Such documents fail to spell out rights, obligations, remedies, or dispute resolution mechanisms. When fraud occurs, these papers are useless. This negligence is not limited to one profession. Event planners, caterers, decorators, photographers, freelancers, online sellers, and even property investors routinely enter into high-value deals without proper documentation. They trust verbal assurances, ignore receipts, and skip legal safeguards. And when things go wrong, they discover that the law does not operate on emotions it operates on evidence.

 

Consider the case of an event planner. She organized a lavish function, received an advance, and delivered all agreed services. After the event, the client raised objections about items never included in the package, using those complaints as an excuse to withhold payment. When asked whether she had a written contract, invoice, or even a WhatsApp confirmation of agreed terms, she admitted she had none. She knew she had been cheated, but without proof, her case was weak. Another client purchased property. He paid a large sum, only to discover later that the land did not exist. Shockingly, he had not even visited the site before handing over the money. No agreement, no verification, no safeguards just blind trust. His loss was not caused by the courts or the lawyers; it was caused by his own carelessness. These are not isolated incidents. They represent a widespread culture of negligence in financial dealings. Thousands of professionals across Pakistan conduct business daily without contracts, receipts, or verification. And when fraud occurs, they blame the system instead of their own lack of precaution.

 

What makes this negligence even more tragic is that our own religious tradition emphasizes documentation. The longest verse in the Qur’an Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 282 commands believers to record financial transactions: “O you who believe! When you contract a debt for a fixed period, write it down.” Fourteen centuries ago, divine guidance laid down principles of written agreements, witnesses, and honesty in financial dealings. What modern lawyers call “legal documentation” and “safety protocols” were taught to us long before the invention of paper contracts. Yet we ignore these teachings, preferring shortcuts and verbal promises.

 

The courts are not weak. The law is not powerless. What weakens a case is the absence of evidence. Judges cannot decide based on feelings; they decide based on proof. Documentation is not a bureaucratic nuisance it is your shield. Written agreements clearly define rights, obligations, deadlines, and remedies. Receipts and invoices provide undeniable proof of payment. Bank transactions create a verifiable trail that cannot be disputed. Verification ensures that the product, property, or service exists as promised. These are not mere pieces of paper. They are the armor that protects your rights in court. Without them, even the strongest claim collapses.

 

We often demand that the system change. We want faster courts, stricter laws, harsher punishments. But systemic reform is meaningless if individuals continue to act carelessly. A society improves not only through legislation but also through responsible behavior. If you truly want justice, start with yourself. Never enter into a major financial transaction without a written contract. Always insist on receipts or bank transfers. Verify before you pay. Keep records safe. The cost of precaution is always less than the cost of regret. A few thousand rupees spent on a proper agreement can save millions later. A few minutes spent verifying a property can prevent lifelong loss. Responsibility is not optional it is the mark of a mature citizen.

 

For the ordinary person, legal language may seem intimidating. But protecting yourself does not require a law degree. It requires discipline. Think of documentation as insurance: you hope you never need it, but when trouble comes, it is invaluable. A freelancer delivering a project should have a signed scope of work. A caterer should issue invoices and receive payments through traceable channels. A property buyer should demand title documents and verify ownership before paying. Even small businesses should maintain receipts and contracts. These practices are not luxuries; they are necessities. They transform fragile trust into enforceable rights.

 

It is easy to curse the courts and condemn the lawyers. It is harder to admit that our own negligence often creates the very problems we complain about. Fraud thrives not only because of dishonest people but also because of careless victims. If we want a better society, we must change our habits. We must embrace documentation, verification, and precaution. We must remember that the Qur’an itself commands us to write down our transactions. And we must understand that justice is built not only in courtrooms but also in the daily discipline of responsible citizens. The law is not weak. Our carelessness makes us weak. Courts decide on evidence, not emotions. If you want your rights protected, preserve your documents. Written agreements, receipts, bank records these are not scraps of paper. They are your shield, your proof, your defense. In the end, precaution is not just legal advice. It is the hallmark of a responsible citizen. And responsibility, more than criticism, is what truly strengthens a society.