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Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
CJP stresses cooperation between bench and bar
KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi on Tuesday reaffirmed the essential partnership between the Bench and the Bar, describing it as the foundation of the country's justice system. He made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) at the Supreme Court Branch Registry in Karachi. Justice Afridi was accompanied by Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court Justice Junaid Ghaffar. The SHCBA delegation was led by its President Barrister Muhammad Sarfraz Ali Metlo, and included Vice President Muhammad Rahib Lakho, Honorary Secretary Mirza Sarfraz Ahmed, and several other members of the managing committee, as well as, former SHCBA President Rehan Aziz Malik. Welcoming the delegation, Justice Afridi stressed that the delivery of justice cannot be achieved in isolation and depends on the strength of cooperation between the judiciary and the legal fraternity. He reiterated that no external pressure or influence would be allowed to undermine this relationship, which he described as vital and non-negotiable. The Chief Justice briefed the delegation on the reform agenda currently under way under the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), highlighting measures aimed at the welfare and empowerment of lawyers. He emphasised that the reforms were designed through a consultative process with active input from the Bar, reflecting a shared vision for strengthening the justice sector. Among the initiatives discussed was solarisation of bar premises, establishment of e-libraries to facilitate lawyers in remote areas, and integration of technology to enhance institutional capacity. Justice Afridi also outlined key decisions taken in recent meetings of the LJCP and the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC), both of which he chairs. He spoke of efforts to address the issue of enforced disappearances through the creation of a dedicated committee, as well as directives issued to High Courts to safeguard judges from undue external influences. He detailed structural reforms such as the establishment of Commercial Litigation Corridors and Model Criminal Trial Courts to ensure swift adjudication, and the setting of timelines for the disposal of thirteen categories of cases. Other reforms included piloting a Double-Docket Court Regime to address backlog, institutionalizing court-annexed mediation, and launching a Professional Excellence Index to assess and improve judicial performance. Additionally, the NJPMC has formed a committee to standardize recruitment, training, and service conditions within the district judiciary. In response, Barrister Metlo thanked the Chief Justice for the reforms and acknowledged the inclusion of the legal community in policy-making processes. He presented the challenges faced by the Bar and proposed the establishment of Model Civil Courts to address the oldest pending civil cases, which he said continue to burden litigants and courts alike. Justice Afridi appreciated the proposal and assured the delegation that it would be considered seriously by the relevant forums. The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to enhance judicial transparency, efficiency, and public trust in the legal system, underlining the indispensable role of both the Bench and the Bar in ensuring justice for all. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
26-07-2025
- 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
26-07-2025
- 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.
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Top judges' body forms panel to address missing persons issue
Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chairman National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee Justice Yahya Afridi chairing the meeting of NJPMC at Supreme Court of Pakistan today on Friday, July 11, 2025. Photo: Supreme Court Website Listen to article The National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) unanimously decided to address the issue of enforced disappearances, establishing a special committee to formulate an institutional response in collaboration with the executive. Chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, the body convened its 53rd meeting to discuss key judicial reforms on Friday. The committee approved several initiatives aimed at enhancing the judicial system, including the establishment of a "Commercial Litigation Corridor" for faster resolution of business disputes and the introduction of "Model Criminal Trial Courts" for expediting criminal cases. Also Read: Islamabad court suspends YouTube ban on prominent journalists, critics It also endorsed the creation of a pilot system for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and initiatives to standardise judicial procedures across districts. A major focus was also placed on improving the inclusion of lawyers in the judicial process, including the development of a "Professional Excellence Index." The committee further discussed the ethical implications of using Generative AI in court operations and tasked the National Judicial Automation Committee to draft a comprehensive ethical framework. In terms of judicial infrastructure, the committee praised initiatives like the construction of women lawyers' bar rooms and daycare centers, along with health insurance for judges and their families. Moreover, the committee decided that tax and financial-related constitutional cases would be handled by division benches in the High Courts instead of single benches.
