Ethical Guidelines for Editors

The editorial team of HIJASS (Hikmat International Journal of Arts and Social Sciences) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, transparency, and academic integrity. These guidelines are aligned with the principles of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, and international ethical frameworks such as those set by COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).

Maintaining Quality & Editorial Integrity

  • Ensure the publication of high-quality, original, and relevant research.

  • Support the freedom of expression within legal and constitutional boundaries.

  • Encourage innovative ideas and scholarly discourse that contribute meaningfully to the academic community.

  • Promote and enforce anti-plagiarism policies using Turnitin and uphold journal policy without external pressure.

  • Editorial Board Members are strictly prohibited from publishing their own research in the journal to avoid conflicts of interest.

Fair Play and Neutrality

  • Guarantee impartial evaluation of manuscripts based solely on academic merit.

  • Avoid discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, race, religion, nationality, or institutional affiliation.

  • Ensure a bias-free and equitable peer review and selection process.

Confidentiality

  • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and the identities of authors and reviewers during the review process.

  • Ensure the privacy of human subjects or participants involved in the research.

  • All content is kept confidential until publication.

Review Process

  • All submissions undergo initial screening followed by a double-blind peer review process.

  • Reviewers receive detailed guidelines and a standardized proforma via the journal’s Open Journal System (OJS).

  • Editorial staff shares reviewer comments with authors and ensures incorporation of required revisions before publication.

Handling Misconduct

  • Reviewers and editors are encouraged to report ethical concerns, research misconduct, or plagiarism.

  • Allegations of misconduct will be investigated using Turnitin and manual checks.

  • In proven cases of plagiarism or unethical practices, the journal may issue a correction, retraction, or ban the author(s).

  • A corrigendum or notice of retraction will be published where appropriate.

Transparency

  • Only one article per issue may be published by the same author as Principal Investigator (PI).

  • Self-institutional publication and editorial board member submissions are strictly prohibited to ensure objectivity and avoid conflict of interest.

  • All authorship and co-authorship declarations must be accurate and verifiable.

Conflict of Interest

  • Editors and reviewers must recuse themselves from evaluating any manuscript where a conflict of interest exists with the author(s) or affiliated institution.

  • Editorial Board Members are not permitted to submit or publish their own work in the journal.

Disclosure

  • Editors and reviewers shall not use any unpublished data or content from submitted manuscripts for personal research or benefit without written permission from the author(s).

Publication Decisions

  • Only manuscripts that fall within the scope of the journal and meet its academic standards will be accepted for publication.

  • Final decisions regarding acceptance or rejection will be made by the Editor-in-Chief, based on reviewer recommendations and merit.

  • All decisions will be communicated promptly and transparently to the author(s), with appropriate justification in case of rejection.

Appeals & Complaints

The journal provides a fair and transparent appeal mechanism for authors in the event of:

  • Rejection of a manuscript

  • Ethical disputes or misconduct allegations

  • Harm caused to any individual or group due to a publication

All appeals must be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief at:

Email: hikmatresearchjournal@gmail.com

The editorial board will independently investigate the case and determine the appropriate resolution.