ISLAMABAD:
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi has assured that the country’s top judiciary firmly supports every honest judicial officer, as he announced sweeping institutional reforms—ranging from introducing two court shifts to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into judicial processes.
Speaking at a conference held at the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad on Friday, the CJP underscored the judiciary’s commitment to both structural reforms and the well-being of its officers.
“While judges are expected to remain composed, impartial, and principled, they are human too and require care,” he remarked, adding that district judiciary judges form a vital part of the judicial system.
CJP Afridi announced several initiatives under discussion, including the establishment of a commercial litigation corridor—a move that will centralise corporate matters under dedicated benches at the high court and Supreme Court level to ensure consistency and reduce delays.
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He also highlighted the proposed double-docket regime, involving the introduction of morning and evening court shifts. The idea, however, has been left to the discretion of provincial high courts, which will present their inputs in a follow-up meeting scheduled for August 18.
On the criminal justice side, model criminal trial courts will be designated to take up the oldest pending trials before the sessions courts. These cases will be heard on a day-to-day basis to expedite justice.
A significant development also came in the form of court-annexed mediation. CJP Afridi said that 20 trained judicial officers will lead mediation efforts, beginning with one district in each province. Progress will be reviewed after three months before expansion is considered.
He further announced that the judiciary was preparing to incorporate ethical use of AI in court processes. “Integrating AI into our justice delivery system is a top priority, but its adoption must not be blind or uncritical,” the CJP said, revealing that the National Judicial Automation Committee, headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, has been tasked with developing an ethical framework.
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The CJP also touched on judicial appointments, stating that decisions on assigning judicial responsibilities to competent lawyers in both subordinate courts and high courts would be made in consultation with stakeholders.
A committee led by retired Supreme Court judge Rahmat Hussain Jafri has been formed for broader institutional reform, including Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court Justice Rozi Khan, all high court registrars, and the DG of the Federal Judicial Academy.
The CJP said judicial training agreements had been signed with the Supreme People’s Court of China and the Supreme Court of Turkiye, under which 30 judicial officers from Pakistan will receive training in China next year.
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“I assure you, the Chief Justice of Pakistan is committed to your welfare,” he told the gathering, adding, “The entire judicial institution stands with the subordinate courts. But institutional reform takes time.”
Also addressing the event, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb underlined the immense pressure faced by the judiciary. “Whether it’s the judicial workload or executive responsibilities, when the pressure mounts, the delivery of justice suffers,” he noted.
He stressed the need to recognise the judiciary’s contribution, remarking that courts in Pakistan—from district benches to superior courts—carry the country’s heaviest workload. “Justice delivery must be viewed with respect and dignity. This is our demand from both the executive and the state,” he added.
