Pakistan’s Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has described the Supreme Court as a “Titanic” that cannot be fundamentally changed but can chart a better course through reforms.
Speaking at a meeting with members of the Supreme Court Press Association, he outlined his vision to improve judicial efficiency and accessibility, Express News reported.
During his visits to Gwadar and Quetta, CJP Afridi said the missing persons cases had shaken him to the core. He promised to give priority to such cases and stressed the importance of recognizing Sindhi and Baloch judges while providing free legal aid to underprivileged litigants.
Justice Afridi stressed that each Supreme Court judge operates independently, calling for constructive criticism rather than personal attacks.
He highlighted the need for reforms, including better case management and digital tools to keep litigants informed via email and WhatsApp notifications, from the filing of the complaint to the final decision.
Responding to challenges in the judiciary, Justice Afridi revealed that urgent applications were being streamlined with judges dismissing 8,000 cases in a short time.
He also proposed creating special chambers for election disputes, criminal cases and tax matters.
The chief justice expressed regret over prisoners’ complaints about prolonging trials and pledged to expedite older cases through daily special hearings.
The Supreme Judicial Council was also reactivated to handle complaints against judges.
Justice Afridi praised Justice Mansoor Ali Shah for taking forward Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, providing training for retired judges and launching the system in Islamabad before expanding it nationwide .
Reflecting on judicial unity, Afridi acknowledged past tensions but remained optimistic about the progress of the justice system.
“Time will heal; we must move forward with collective wisdom,” he said, emphasizing that the justice system is recovering from a difficult period marked by significant backlogs of cases.
