ISLAMABAD: Reaffirming the constitutional guarantee of equal access to justice across all regions of the country, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, in his capacity as chairman of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), visited the Judicial Complex at Fort Abbas in district Bahawalnagar — the last judicial post of Punjab, situated in a geographically remote and resource-constrained area.

The chief justice was accompanied by the Lahore High Court’s top judge, reflecting institutional coordination and a shared resolve to strengthen justice delivery at the grassroots level.

The visit formed part of an ongoing outreach initiative aimed at engaging district judiciary, bar representatives and litigants in far-flung and underserved regions. Earlier visits were undertaken to Gwadar, Sadiqabad, Ghotki, Booni and Nagarparkar, spanning all provinces. The initiative seeks to bridge systemic gaps in justice service delivery and ensure that institutional support reaches even the most remote judicial stations.

At the Judicial Complex, Fort Abbas, the chief justice conducted a comprehensive review of court functioning, infrastructure and litigant facilitation mechanisms. He observed that constitutional guarantees must not be contingent upon geography and stressed that even the most distant judicial posts must reflect institutional dignity, operational efficiency and public responsiveness.

Reviews court functioning, infrastructure and litigant facilitation services during visit to Judicial Complex, Fort Abbas

During the visit, it was reiterated that four priority reform projects identified under the current phase of the LJCP’s development framework — solarisation of courts to ensure uninterrupted power supply, provision of e-libraries, establishment of women-centric facilities and installation of drinking water plants — would be completed by the end of August 2026. The projects aim to strengthen essential infrastructure, promote technological integration and improve public service facilities in courts within a defined timeframe.

In the presence of the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief justice of the Lahore High Court, the district and sessions judge, Bahawalnagar, inaugurated the newly established e-library and the solarisation facility at the complex. These initiatives are intended to enhance judicial research capacity and ensure sustainable, uninterrupted court operations in a climate-sensitive region.

While acknowledging the planning and budgetary support extended for the project, the chief justice appreciated the Punjab government for executing the solarisation initiative within the stipulated timeline.

The chief justice also observed court proceedings in the court of a civil judge and held a detailed interaction with judges posted at Fort Abbas and adjoining areas. He appreciated their dedication in administering justice under challenging conditions and encouraged adherence to high standards of integrity, efficiency and sensitivity toward litigants. He assured institutional support for capacity building and infrastructural improvements.

Interactive session

Speaking at an interactive session with members of the local bar, the chief justice said mutual respect, professional cooperation and shared responsibility between the bench and the bar were fundamental to sustaining public confidence in the justice system.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2026