ISLAMABAD: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi has said that timely and effective adjudication is not only a constitutional obligation but also a moral responsibility.
Chairing the eighth interactive progress review session at the Supreme Court on Thursday, the CJP reaffirmed the Supreme Court’s commitment to a litigant-focused justice system.
The session was attended by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, Chairman National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC), and senior officials, technical experts, and section heads to assess monthly progress under the Reform Action Plan (RAP) and to issue directions on pending initiatives and upcoming milestones.
The meeting was also attended by the Registrar Supreme Court, Director General (Reforms), IT Advisor Hamayun Zafar, section heads of the Supreme Court, the Director General of the Federal Judicial Academy, and the Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP).
During the briefing, the Chief Justice reviewed the substantive progress achieved under the reform framework. Of the 86 initiatives identified in the RAP, 36 have been completed, 45 are under implementation, and 13 are scheduled to begin shortly. These indicators reflect the judiciary’s continuing effort to modernise processes, enhance institutional efficiency, and strengthen public-facing services.
The Chief Justice examined updates on case disposal, case categorisation, record digitisation, IT integration, financial controls, audit mechanisms, and public facilitation initiatives. He noted with satisfaction that case categorisation is underway, and that more than 126,00 records have been digitised out of the targeted 61,900, with the remaining work expected to be completed within the stipulated timeline. He kicked off the Standardisation and quality assurance process today.
Progress on automation, including software enhancements, improved IT integration, and QR-coded certified copies, was also reviewed. For launching the E Courts project, focused group discussions will be held at the Federal Judicial Academy in collaboration with the Ministry of IT and Telecom, as well as Pakistan Digital Authority, which will give a master plan for end-to-end digitisation of all courts from the district judiciary to the Supreme Court across the country. Capacity-building sessions on data management and analysis initiatives were also discussed.
The Public Facilitation component was reviewed in detail. The Chief Justice acknowledged improvements in the system for receiving calls and complaints, as well as the proactive outreach mechanism through which citizens are contacted for feedback. Progress on ADR and mediation initiatives, and updates on performance and security audits were also presented. Underscoring the importance of transparency, the Chief Justice reiterated that financial discipline and regular audits are essential to accountable institutional governance. He directed all departments to accelerate outstanding tasks ahead of the next review meeting, emphasising that sustained and measurable progress is vital for maintaining public trust in the judiciary.
The Chief Justice commended the contributions of officers, technical teams, and partner institutions, and reiterated the judiciary’s resolve to foster innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity in building a justice system that is transparent, modern, and equitable.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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