Enhancing court efficiency via technology integration: as per Chief Justice's announcement
In Islamabad, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi underscored the integration of technology into the judicial system as not merely a modernization measure, but an essential step towards making courts more accessible, transparent, and efficient for citizens. This statement was made during a symposium titled "Use of Technology in Judicial System in Pakistan: Prospects and Promises," organized by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan at the Supreme Court building on Monday.
Justice Shahid Waheed, a Supreme Court judge, presented an overview of the progress and evolution of information technology within Pakistan's judicial system, emphasizing the milestones achieved and the structural challenges that persist.
Chief Justice Afridi commended the symposium as timely and visionary, aligning with the reform agenda to be discussed by the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) in its upcoming meeting. He acknowledged the significant contributions of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Supreme Court judges/Chairman and Members of the National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC), and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) for spearheading this initiative.
Welcome remarks were extended to international guests, and gratitude was expressed to Justice Zhang Jun, Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court of China, and Justice Kadir Ozkaya, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of Turkey, for their ongoing support and commitment to judicial cooperation.
Reflecting on the ongoing reforms, Chief Justice Afridi highlighted the key digital innovations recently introduced by the Supreme Court, such as e-filing, QR codes on judgments, expanded video-link hearings, the launch of a citizen feedback portal, and the use of data analytics for case management. However, he also acknowledged ongoing challenges, including the digital divide, evolving legal frameworks, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
The chief justice emphasized that resistance to technological change should not impede progress and called for a comprehensive national framework to guide judicial digital transformation. This framework should incorporate robust cybersecurity protocols, ethical guidelines for AI use, and a culture of collaboration involving High Courts, judicial academies, government institutions, academia, and the legal community.
The judiciary's commitment to innovation, transparency, and citizen-centric justice was reaffirmed by Chief Justice Afridi, who urged all stakeholders to collaborate to shape a judicial system that caters to the needs of the present and wins the trust of future generations.
The symposium showcased perspectives from international experts, such as Li Xiaohui, an expert from the Supreme People's Court of China, who shared China's digital journey in judicial reforms. Prof Dr Hasan Mandal, Rector of Istanbul Technical University, Turkey, presented a global view on how courts are adopting technology, while Prof Dr Çetin Elmas of Gazi University, Turkey, discussed the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in shaping the future of justice delivery.
Federal Secretary for Information Technology and Telecom Zarrar Hasham Khan outlined Pakistan's digital infrastructure plans and stressed the importance of inter-institutional collaboration to support the justice sector's transformation.
The ongoing advancements in Pakistan's judicial system through technology underscore its potential for significant transformation, despite challenges such as digital divide, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the need for a legal framework to accommodate new technologies while upholding ethical standards.
[1] Pakistan's Supreme Court Launches E-filing System
[2] Pakistan's Supreme Court Introduces Video-Link Hearings
[3] Artificial Intelligence in the Justice System
[4] National Digital Transformation Framework for the Justice System
[5] Supreme Court Announces Launch of Citizen Feedback Portal
The launch of e-filing and citizen feedback portals, along with initiatives like video-link hearings, QR codes on judgments, and the use of data analytics for case management, are part of Pakistan's ongoing efforts to integrate technology into the judicial system, as highlighted by Chief Justice Afridi. A comprehensive national framework, encompassing robust cybersecurity protocols, ethical guidelines for AI use, and collaboration between various institutions, is essential to guide this digital transformation.
