Latest news with #CJP
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Afridi leaves for Hajj: Justice Muneeb sworn in as acting CJP
ISLAMABAD: Justice Muneeb Akhtar was sworn in as the acting chief justice of Pakistan on Friday, following the departure of CJP Yahya Afridi for the annual Hajj pilgrimage Friday. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Supreme Court in Islamabad, where Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel administered the oath to Justice Akhtar. The event was attended by Supreme Court judges, senior lawyers, and officials from the Attorney General's Office. Justice Muneeb Akhtar, currently third in seniority among Supreme Court judges, will serve as the acting chief justice until June 6. Following this, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is scheduled to assume the role of acting chief justice from June 6 to 10, during the continued absence of the chief justice. According to sources, CJP Yahya Afridi left for Hajj early Friday morning and is expected to return to Pakistan on June 10, which falls on the fourth day of Eid ul Azha. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
CJP for timely and effective utilisation of funds released to HCs
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) underscored the need for timely and effective utilisation of the funds released to respective High Courts. CJP Yahya Afridi, who is also the chairman Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), on Thursday, chaired 19th meeting of the Governing Body, Access to Justice Development Fund (AJDF) in the Conference Room of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The CJs of all High Courts, secretary Ministry of Law and Justice, additional Secretary Finance Division and Secretary Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan attended the meeting. Justice Yahya appreciated the role of funds in capacity building and infrastructural development of the district judiciary throughout Pakistan. The Governing Body approved the suggestion floated by the High Courts for utilisation of the funds under Underdeveloped Regions (UDR) window exclusively for solarisation of courts and establishment of e-libraries for one year in the underdeveloped districts of the country. In addition, the projects of Lahore High Court for provision of missing facilities to female judicial officers and litigants in district courts were also approved. The apex body also approved mechanism for smooth and timely completion of projects funded from AJDF. The Governing Body approved the recommendations of the Technical Evaluation Committee, AJDF regarding projects undertaken through Legal Empowerment, Judicial and Legal Research and Legal Innovation Windows for timely completion. After deliberations, the apex body extended the purview of Free Legal Aid Committees to the High Courts by enhancing the lawyers' professional fee along with increase in funding limit to these Committees. Annual accounts and funds allocation for FY 2023-24 and budget for FY 2025-26 were also approved. Earlier, Syeda Tanzeela Sabahat, Secretary LJCP gave a brief overview of AJDF, its mandate and overall performance with regard to funds released under various AJDF windows specifically for infrastructure development and projects executed in Underdeveloped Regions to bring them at par with other areas of the country. She also updated about the provision of free legal aid to deserving litigants under District Legal Empowerment Committees (DLECs), provision of litigant-oriented conveniences and amenities, projects completed and trainings of justice sector stakeholders through Judicial Academies. Meanwhile, the CJP also presided over the 44th meeting of LJCP. He apprised the participants of a significant shift in the composition of the LJCP. He emphasised the need for regular meetings, wider publicity of the LJCP's mandate to solicit law reform proposals, and augmentation of research capabilities by engaging research associate alongside the existing team of researchers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
SC accelerates death penalty case disposals
While the performance of constitutional benches at the Supreme Court remains underwhelming, the top court under Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has achieved unprecedented acceleration in disposing of criminal cases, particularly those involving death sentences. According to the SC statement, 238 death sentence appeals have been decided during CJP Afridi's tenure. When he assumed office, 59,435 cases were pending in the apex court, which then comprised 16 permanent and two ad hoc judges. As of May 20, the number of working judges has risen to 25, and the case pendency has been reduced to 56,715. Since October 28, 2024, the court has disposed of 238 death sentence appeals, over 52% of the 454 total cases. At the start of Afridi's tenure, 410 death sentence appeals were pending. With 44 new appeals instituted since then, the number rose to 454, but rapid fixation and disposal have brought it down to 216. By comparison, only 26 such appeals were resolved during the corresponding period a year earlier. The SC statement credits this turnaround to the CJP's strategic focus on long-pending cases and the extension of working hours to hear them. Three dedicated benches were constituted and worked on over several consecutive weeks. The first bench, headed by Justice Athar Minallah and comprising Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, is learnt to have decided 125 appeals in April alone. The second bench was led by Justice Muhammad Hashim Kakar, with Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi. The third bench, chaired by Justice Naeem Afghan, included Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Aamer Farooq. "The judges comprising these benches convened prolonged sittings, frequently extending beyond normal court working hours. The unwavering commitment of Hon'ble Judges has culminated in the huge disposal of all death appeals instituted up to 2024. The Court will now proceed as next phase to the cases of life-imprisonment appeals, preferential hearing such cases where the convict has already served two-thirds of the sentence—an approach designed to afford prompt relief to deserving appellants while reinforcing public confidence in the even-handed administration of criminal justice." The apex court acknowledged the cooperation of counsel, prosecutors, prison officials and families. "Their patience and professionalism resulted in this progress. Their combined commitment demonstrates that, with focused and collaborative resolve, the justice system can translate in commendable output," the statement said. Report on CBs demanded However, lawyers argue that it is essential to release a performance report on the constitutional benches (CBs), functioning after the 26th Constitutional Amendment. The judges serving on these CBs have yet to evolve any rules or procedures for their operation. Notably, even a CB judge, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, has raised concerns about the absence of regulations. At the same time, the superior judiciary under CJP Afridi is confronting what many call its most significant challenge: executive influence over the nomination of CB judges and judicial appointments. Although CJP Afridi has prioritised the reduction of case pendency, he has so far been unable to devise a strategy to counter the executive's role in appointments. According to some legal observers, around 90% of judicial appointments are currently backed by executive authorities. Commenting on the performance of SC judges, Advocate Abdul Moiz Jaferii noted: "These are great numbers. But the only number that counts is the majority of the executive in the judicial commission.' 'It is with this number that the meaning of justice has been reduced in our country. There is no independent judicial organ. The challenge to this usurpation of a pillar of the state remains pending. Until the question of the sanctity of the constitution is settled, these numbers are meaningless." As for the performance of the constitutional bench, he added, 'As far as the constitutional bench is concerned, the less said the better'. 'We were told they were assembled to give us efficient and competent adjudication. After six months of doing almost nothing, we have only the military courts decision being overturned as proof of their mastery. Even that decision comes without any details yet afforded.' 'We are on our way to reviewing the reserved seats case without asking why the petitioner seeking review has decided not to implement it. With a bench which lacks the author judge and is headed by the author of a dissenting opinion which the majority had censured,' he added. 'When the lawyers of today tell their stories tomorrow, the period in which the 26th amendment was in vogue and these constitutional benches were functioning will be remembered as little more than a bad joke." Lawyers stress that the time has come for SC judges to unite in defence of judicial independence, instead of prioritising personal objectives.
Business Recorder
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CJP visits Bannu Bench of PHC
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi emphasised that the independence and safety of judges, particularly of the district judiciary is essential for the fair and effective delivery of justice. CJP Yahya Afridi, on Friday, visited the Bannu Bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to express his solidarity with the judges working in a challenging environment. During the visit, the Chief Justice met with the PHC Chief Justice SM Attique Shah, and held detailed discussions on institutional capacity building for both the judiciary and the legal fraternity. He also engaged with judges of the PHC, members of the District Judiciary including Karak, Bannu, Lakki and North Waziristan, and representatives of the legal community posted in Bannu. Key deliberations centered on the agenda of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC), with particular emphasis on institutional synergy, judicial capacity enhancement, and legal education reforms. These priorities were reiterated and thoroughly discussed with members of the judiciary and the bar. Topics included the importance of addressing commercial litigation and the proposal for establishing a dedicated Commercial Litigation Corridor; the introduction of Double Docket Courts as an optional feature involving cooperation among parties, the bench, and the bar; the expansion of court-annexed mediation; and the revival of Model Criminal Courts to address delayed cases. The Chief Justice also emphasised the urgent need for judicial automation, referencing the upcoming symposium on automation and Artificial Intelligence in the justice sector. Additionally, it was underscored that funds should be prioritised for underdeveloped regions in accordance with prescribed guidelines. The importance of facilitating foreign training and exposure visits for judges serving in such areas was acknowledged, alongside the principle that the most competent judges be posted to underdeveloped regions. Lastly, the development of a Performance Excellence Index for judicial officers was discussed as a tool to promote merit, transparency, and accountability. A prominent topic of discussion was the proposal to integrate standardized training modules for apprentice lawyers. In this regard, Bar Councils across the country have been invited to submit a joint proposal to be considered for inclusion in the upcoming NJPMC meeting. This initiative represents a significant move towards harmonising legal education and practical training nationwide. As part of his broader agenda for CJS reforms, the Chief Justice also visited local correctional facilities. During his inspection of the jail, he reviewed prison conditions, visited the hospital and kitchen, inaugurated a new Drug Rehabilitation Centre, and interacted with inmates to understand their concerns. In a notable instance, when the jail authorities were asked to present the inmate with the oldest pending case from the condemned category before the Supreme Court, they took the Chief Justice to prisoner Bahadur Khan. The Chief Justice expressed regret over the prolonged delay in his case, which had remained pending since 2019. Despite clear policy guidelines stating that no case of a condemned prisoner should remain unresolved beyond 2024, he was informed that the matter had only recently been decided on April 23, 2025. Despite repeated efforts to encourage inmates to voice any concerns, no prisoner responded in the presence of jail authorities. The Chief Justice underscored the importance of ensuring transparency, humane treatment, and accountability within the prison system, in accordance with constitutional principles and international standards. He also directed the District Police Officer (DPO) to ensure the timely submission of challans and emphasised the role of the District and Sessions Judge in activating the Criminal Justice Coordination Committee for improved inter-agency collaboration. In addition, the Chief Justice conducted a thorough review of the security protocols for judicial officers and court premises. He emphasised the need for a secure and enabling environment in all courts in the country that allows the judiciary to discharge its constitutional duties with independence and integrity. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
CJP highlights long-standing, cordial judicial ties with Türkiye
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi highlighted the long-standing and cordial judicial relations between Pakistan and Türkiye, rooted in mutual respect, shared legal traditions, and deep cultural ties. Irfan Neziroglu, ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, called on the chief justice at the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Islamabad. During the meeting, the chief justice warmly welcomed the esteemed guest and expressed his sincere gratitude for the exceptional hospitality extended by the Turkish judiciary during his recent official visit to Türkiye. The chief justice had visited Türkiye to participate in the 63rd Anniversary celebrations of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Türkiye. The chief justice appreciated the ongoing cooperation in the field of judicial education and capacity building of various tiers of judicial system. Underscoring the significance of mutual learning and exchange of judicial best practices, the chief justice emphasised the need to broaden the scope of collaboration to include Pakistan's district judiciary. He noted that structured exposure to Türkiye's advancements in court management, digitisation of judicial processes, and application of Artificial Intelligence in judicial systems would be highly beneficial for judicial officers at all levels. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation between the judiciaries of Pakistan and Türkiye through sustained institutional engagements and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
