Islamabad:
Chief judge Yahya Afridi said on Monday that the integration of technology into the judicial system is essential to guarantee better accessibility, transparency and effectiveness of the courts.
The superior judge made these remarks while addressing a symposium entitled “Use of technology in the judicial system in Pakistan: prospects and promises” in the federal capital.
The event, summoned by the Pakistan law and justice committee, brought together estimated members of the judiciary, international experts and senior officials to explore the future of judicial reforms by digital transformation.
The Supreme Court judge Shahid Waheed presented an overview of the progress and evolution of information technologies in the Pakistan judicial system, highlighting the affected stages and the structural challenges that remain.
The symposium included prospects for international experts, Li Xiaohui, an expert from the Court of the Supreme People of China, who shared the digital journey of China in legal reforms.
In his opening speech, the chief judge stressed that the integration of technology into the judicial system is not simply a question of modernization, but that it is essential to make the courts more accessible, transparent and effective for the people they serve.
He described the symposium as appropriate and turned forward, lining up with the reform agenda to be deliberated by the National Committee of Judicials (Policy Development) (NJPMC) at his next meeting.
The chief judge recognized the vital contributions of judge Muhammad Ali Mazhar, judge Shahid Waheed, judge Ali Baqar Najafi, judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan / President and members of the National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC), and the Pakistan law and justice commission (LJCP) for the management of this initiative.
He also granted warm warmth to international guests and expressed his gratitude to judge Zhang Jun, the chief judge of the Court of the Supreme People of China, and judge Kadir Ozkaya, the chief judge of the Türkiye Constitutional Court, for their support and continuous commitment in judicial cooperation.
By reflecting on the ongoing reforms, the best judge underlined the main digital innovations recently implemented by the Supreme Court, including electronic deposit, QR codes on judgments, extended video liaison hearings, the launch of a civic feedback portal and the use of data analysis for cases management. However, he also recognized ongoing challenges such as digital divide, the evolution of legal frameworks and the vulnerabilities of cybersecurity.
He stressed that the resistance to technological change should not hinder progress and underlined the need for a complete national framework to guide judicial digital transformation, in particular robust cybersecurity protocols, ethical directives for the use of AI and a culture of collaboration involving high courses, judicial academies, government institutions, universities and the legal community.
The chief judge has reaffirmed that technology is a powerful tool for strengthening institutional trust, eliminating obstacles to access and improving the quality of justice.
He called on all stakeholders to move forward with unity and decide to shape a judicial system that meets the needs of this and gains the confidence of future generations.
