Latest news with #FederalJudicialAcademy
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Islamabad Declaration approved: Landmark dialogue on judicial wellbeing held
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Declaration on Judicial Wellbeing called judicial wellbeing a structural imperative for a responsive and sustainable justice system. Marking the International Day for Judicial Wellbeing, a national symposium was held at the Federal Judicial Academy, here on Friday, under the theme 'The Human Dimension of Responsive Justice.' The event brought together judges of the superior and district judiciary, legal experts, development partners, and institutional stakeholders for a landmark dialogue on judicial wellbeing in Pakistan. In his keynote address, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi underscored the urgent need to humanise judicial reforms by recognising the emotional, psychological, and institutional pressures faced by judges, particularly at the district level. 'A judge who is institutionally supported is better able to be fair, focused, and effectively responsive,' he remarked, affirming his unwavering commitment to ensure dignity, protection, and institutional support for the judiciary. Chief Justice Afridi outlined a series of judicial reform initiatives led through the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee, including the establishment of Model Criminal Trial Courts, timelines for speedy disposal of civil and criminal matters, development of a Professional Excellence Index, and formulation of ethical guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence in the judiciary. The special focus was placed on the wellbeing of the district judiciary, with reforms addressing extraneous influence, performance evaluation, standardised recruitment, parity in service terms, and enhanced access to international exposure. In a promising development, he announced forthcoming Memoranda of Understanding with the Supreme Court of China and the Constitutional Court of Türkiye for judicial cooperation, including the exchange of judicial officers. The symposium concluded with the unanimous adoption of the Islamabad Declaration on Judicial Wellbeing, calling judicial wellbeing a 'structural imperative' for a responsive and sustainable justice system. The declaration affirmed the need to embed judicial wellbeing in all areas of reform—case management, digital integration, infrastructure, and staffing—while fostering a culture of empathy, collegiality, and institutional care. The declaration urged the stakeholders at the national and provincial levels to integrate judicial wellbeing into policy and training and calls upon development partners to collaborate in the design and implementation of a National Judicial Wellbeing Framework. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Chief justice pays tribute to judiciary's 'silent strength'
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has underscored the urgent need to "humanize judicial reforms" by recognizing the emotional, psychological, and institutional pressures faced by judges, particularly at the district level. The CJP was addressing a national symposium on Friday held at the Federal Judicial Academy to mark the International Day for Judicial Wellbeing. The theme of the symposium was "The Human Dimension of Responsive Justice". The event brought together judges of the superior and district judiciary, legal experts, development partners, and institutional stakeholders for a landmark dialogue on judicial wellbeing in Pakistan. Addressing the event, Justice Afridi said a judge, who is institutionally supported is better able to be fair, focused, and effectively responsive. He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to ensure dignity, protection, and institutional support for the judiciary. The CJP outlined a series of judicial reform initiatives led through the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee, including the establishment of Model Criminal Trial Courts, issuance of timelines for speedy disposal of civil and criminal matters and development of a Professional Excellence Index. He also referred to formulation of ethical guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in judiciary. He said the committee has placed special focus on the wellbeing of district judiciary, with reforms addressing extraneous influence, performance evaluation, standardized recruitment, parity in service terms, and enhanced access to international exposure. He also announced forthcoming memoranda of understanding with the Supreme Court of China and the Constitutional Court of Türkiye for judicial cooperation, including the exchange of judicial officers. The CJP paid tribute to the silent strength of the judiciary and concluded with a resolute pledge: "This day is not just a tributeit is a promise. You are not alone. The entire institution stands behind you." The symposium later adopted a unanimous "Islamabad Declaration on Judicial Wellbeing", calling judicial wellbeing a "structural imperative" for a responsive and sustainable justice system. The declaration affirmed the need to embed judicial wellbeing in all areas of reformcase management, digital integration and infrastructure.
Business Recorder
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Delivery of timely, effective justice a moral imperative: CJP
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi underscored that the delivery of timely and effective justice is not only a constitutional obligation but also a moral imperative. CJP Yahya was chairing the fifth interactive session on Tuesday at the Supreme Court building. The chief justice was apprised of substantial headway on the court's ambitious reform agenda. Out of 89 identified initiatives, 26 have been successfully completed, reflecting concrete advancements in key areas. Another 44 are under way, while 14 are scheduled to begin shortly. These milestones underscore the judiciary's steadfast commitment to modernising its operations and improving efficiency in justice delivery. The chief justice was further informed of a notable reduction in case pendency as a direct result of these initiatives, marking a significant step towards timely resolution of cases. While reviewing performance in critical areas such as case categorisation, document scanning, and the Case Management System, he expressed concern over delays—particularly in the categorisation of cases—and directed all concerned departments to expedite completion of these tasks before the next review meeting. Such progress, he emphasised, is essential for sustaining public confidence and ensuring that reforms remain aligned with the needs and expectations of litigants. The session concluded with the chief justice commending the valuable contributions of judicial officers, technical experts, and policy advisors. He reiterated the Supreme Court's dedication to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration in building a justice system that is modern, transparent, and equitable. The session convened senior officials, stakeholders, and officers of the Supreme Court to evaluate the progress of comprehensive judicial reforms aimed at enhancing service delivery and expanding access to justice nationwide. The meeting was attended by the Registrar Supreme Court Muhammad Salim Khan; development expert Sher Shah (joining online from France); IT expert Hamayun Zafar; section heads from the Supreme Court's Principal Seat and Branch Registries; Senior Director of the Federal Judicial Academy; and a representative of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP). Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
SC team leaves for Turkiye
A high-level technical team of the Supreme Court left on Sunday for Ankara on a week-long official visit to the Constitutional Court of Turkiye, as a follow up to an earlier visit of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to the brotherly Muslim country, the Supreme Court said. According to a statement by the Supreme Court is a reflection of the chief justice's commitment to institutional reforms and international judicial cooperation. The team comprises officers from the Supreme Court, Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) and Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP). The main objective of the visit is to study best practices in judicial performance including case management systems and the use of technology.
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
AI should support, not replace, human judgment in courts: Justice Aurangzeb
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the Supreme Court of Pakistan underscored the critical need for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to serve as a tool to assist, rather than replace, human judgment in the judicial system. Speaking at the Annual Symposium for Judges on Thursday, Justice Aurangzeb said while AI is 'undoubtedly the need of the hour,' it must be implemented with care, ensuring that human intellect and reasoning remain central to judicial decision-making. The symposium was organised by the Ministry of Law & Justice in collaboration with the Federal Judicial Academy and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The event brought together jurists and policymakers to explore the evolving landscape of digital justice in Pakistan. IHC concerned at govt failure to recover missing persons Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law & Justice, lauded the symposium's focus on digital transformation and the empowerment of the judiciary. 'Judges, as guardians of justice, must be at the heart of innovation in the legal system,' he said, adding that the responsible use of technology could enhance transparency, responsiveness, and inclusiveness, without compromising fairness or constitutional values. Federal Secretary for Law & Justice, Raja Naeem Akbar, who chaired the opening session, reaffirmed the government's commitment to modernising legal infrastructure. He spotlighted ongoing digital initiatives, including the Pakistan Code, the Document Retrieval System (DRS), and the Case Assignment and Management System (CAMS). In his welcome address, the Director General of the Federal Judicial Academy emphasised the importance of keeping pace with technological evolution. 'History shows that societies that adapt endure—those that don't, fade,' he said. The day-long symposium featured a series of panel discussions and presentations focused on integrating technology into judicial processes while preserving the rule of law.
