Publication Ethics & Malpractice Statement

Fikr e Iqbal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics. The journal strictly follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure integrity, transparency, and academic excellence in all stages of the publication process. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.
1. Responsibilities of Authors
1.1 Originality and Integrity
•    Authors must submit original, unpublished work.
•    Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and unethical paraphrasing are strictly prohibited.
•    All sources must be properly cited.
1.2 Authorship
Authorship must reflect genuine scholarly contribution.
All listed authors must have:
•    Contributed significantly to the research
•    Participated in drafting or revising the manuscript
•    Approved the final version
•    Agreed to be accountable for the integrity of the work
Ghost, honorary, or gift authorship is unethical and unacceptable.
1.3 Multiple Submissions
•    Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is prohibited.
•    Redundant or overlapping publications are considered malpractice.
1.4 Data Accuracy
•    Authors must ensure accuracy of data, references, and quotations.
•    Fabricated or manipulated data constitutes serious misconduct.
1.5 Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose:
•    Financial support
•    Institutional affiliations
•    Personal or professional relationships that may influence the research
1.6 Ethical Compliance
If research involves human subjects, archival materials, or sensitive content, authors must ensure compliance with ethical standards and institutional approvals.
1.7 Post Publication Responsibilities
Authors must promptly notify the journal of any errors discovered after publication and cooperate in issuing corrections or retractions.
2. Responsibilities of Reviewers
2.1 Confidentiality
•    Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents.
•    Reviewers must not share, discuss, or use manuscript content for personal benefit.
2.2 Objectivity
•    Reviews must be objective, constructive, and free from personal criticism.
•    Reviewers should evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit.
2.3 Conflict of Interest
Reviewers must decline review if:
•    They have personal, financial, or professional conflicts
•    They cannot provide an unbiased evaluation
2.4 Ethical Vigilance
Reviewers must report:
•    Plagiarism
•    Duplicate publication
•    Data manipulation
•    Ethical concerns
3. Responsibilities of Editors
3.1 Editorial Independence
Editors make decisions based solely on:
•    Academic quality
•    Originality
•    Relevance to the journal’s scope
No external influence—personal, institutional, or political—is permitted.
3.2 Fair Evaluation
•    Manuscripts are evaluated without discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, nationality, or ideology.
•    Editors ensure a transparent and unbiased review process.
3.3 Confidentiality
Editors must:
•    Maintain confidentiality of all submissions
• Do not use unpublished material for personal research
3.4 Handling Misconduct
Editors follow COPE procedures for:
•    Plagiarism
•    Fabrication
•    Duplicate publication
•    Ethical violations
Actions may include rejection, retraction, or institutional notification.
4. Responsibilities of the Publisher
The publisher ensures:
•    Integrity of the academic record
•    Preservation and archiving of published content
•    Support for ethical editorial and review processes
•    Transparency in publication policies
The publisher does not influence editorial decisions.
5. Handling Ethical Misconduct
In cases of suspected misconduct, the journal follows COPE-recommended procedures:
•    Initial investigation
•    Communication with authors
•    Consultation with reviewers or experts
•    Decision (correction, retraction, or rejection)
Severe cases may lead to:
•    Retraction of published work
•    Blacklisting of authors
•    Notification to affiliated institutions
6. Retraction, Correction, and Withdrawal Policy
6.1 Retraction
Articles may be retracted if:
•    Plagiarism is confirmed
•    Data is fabricated or falsified
•    Ethical violations are proven
6.2 Corrections
Minor errors that do not affect the overall findings may be corrected through an erratum.
6.3 Withdrawal
Pre-publication withdrawal is allowed only with written justification and editorial approval.
7. Transparency and Open Access
Fikr e Iqbal follows an open-access policy to promote global dissemination of knowledge.
All content is freely available for academic and educational use with proper citation.