ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi reaffirmed the resolve on Tuesday to place litigants at the heart of all reforms, stressing that the delivery of timely and effective justice is not only a constitutional obligation but also a moral imperative.

The CJP made the remarks at the fifth interactive session convened to advance his vision of a citizen-centric justice system.

The session brought together senior officials, stakeholders and officers of the Supreme Court to evaluate the progress of judicial reforms aimed at improving service delivery and expanding access to justice nationwide.

The meeting was attended by the Supreme Court registrar, Muhammad Salim Khan; development expert Sher Shah (who joined online from France); IT expert Hamayun Zafar; section heads from the Supreme Court’s principal seat and registries; the senior director of the Federal Judicial Academy and a representative of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

During the deliberations, the CJP was informed that a substantial headway had been made on the court’s ambitious reform agenda. Out of 89 identified initiatives, 26 have been successfully completed, reflecting concrete progress in key areas.

Notable reduction witnessed in case pendancy, moot told

Another 44 are underway, 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 CJP 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 departments concerned to expedite work before the next review meeting.

Such progress, he emphasised, is essential to sustaining public confidence and ensuring that reforms remain aligned with the needs and expectations of litigants.

The session concluded with the CJP commending the valuable contributions of judicial officers, technical experts and policy advisers.

He reiterated the Supreme Court’s determination to foster innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration in building a system that is modern, transparent and equitable.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2025