Daily Times

A delegation of probationary officers undergoing training at the Civil Services Academy (CSA), Lahore, accompanied by the Director of CSA, visited the Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday as part of their study tour.

The delegation also met the Chief Justice of Pakistan, who warmly congratulated them on their success in joining the civil services through a competitive examination.

During the session, the Chief Justice Mr. Justice Yahya Afridi provided an insightful introduction to Pakistan’s constitutional history, tracing its evolution from the country’s independence in 1947 to the 2024 promulgation of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

He emphasized the significance of the Constitution as the fundamental document that governs the State’s functions and highlighted the concept of the trichotomy of power enshrined in the 1973 Constitution.

The Chief Justice also addressed the pressing issue of case pendency in Pakistan’s judicial system. He elaborated on the hierarchical structure of the judiciary, comprising the Supreme Court, High Courts, and District Courts.

He highlighted the critical role of District Courts as the primary interface for litigants and the starting point of the litigation process. Stressing the importance of timely justice, he mentioned the role of National Judicial Policy Making Committee as a policy-making forum to address the backlog of cases.

He underlined the judiciary’s commitment to reducing delays and providing relief to litigants, thereby fostering trust in judicial institutions.

Sharing his experiences from visits to remote districts across the provinces, the Chief Justice underscored the need for patient hearings and empathetic engagement with litigants. He advised the probationers to uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and respect in their interactions with the public and to resolve issues strictly within the ambit of the law.

The Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Salim Khan, provided a comprehensive briefing on the Chief Justice’s reforms agenda and explained that the reforms are designed to be citizen-centric, ensuring access to justice as currently 57,347 cases pending in the Supreme Court and 2.4 million cases across all judicial tiers.

Special attention is being given to vulnerable segments of society, including women, children, physically challenged individuals, and overseas Pakistanis.

The Registrar highlighted that the reform process emphasizes improving processes and procedures rather than expanding institutional size. These reforms are homegrown and based on the experience of indigenous employees of the Supreme Court. This approach ensures efficiency without incurring additional costs or causing disruptions to routine operations.

The Registrar elaborated on the adoption of technology as a key tool in the reform initiative. Existing software from High Courts is being customized and replicated to expedite implementation and avoid unnecessary costs. The reforms also include a phased framework developed by a core group of experts, with clear targets set for achievement within 3-6 months, 3 years, and 5 years.

He stressed that the focus is on providing predictable and timely justice to restore citizens’ trust in the judicial system and, by extension, the state. He further noted that sustained and consistent delivery of justice is essential to prevent the erosion of state legitimacy and to counter the influence of non-state actors.