Islamabad:
The National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) has decided to protect legal officers from external influence and asked the high courts to establish structured mechanisms for reporting and remedying such cases within a established timeframe.
A statutory body responsible for the formulation and implementation of the judicial policy held NJPMC its 53th meeting on Friday at the Supreme Court in Pakistan.
The meeting, chairman of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, was attended by Chief Justices for all provincial high courts as well as Islamabad High Court (IHC). The extra lawyer for Pakistan (AAGP) also participated in Mooten on special invitation.
According to a statement issued after the meeting, NJPMC also took serious notice of enforced disappearance in the country. The Committee unanimously decided that the judiciary would not compromise on its constitutional duty to protect fundamental rights.
In this regard, it formed a dedicated committee to formulate an institutional reaction, after taking into account the concerns of the performing exercise to be communicated through the Legal Attorney for Pakistan (AGP).
The Committee considered key policy issues and adopted several significant measures to improve legal performance, technology integration in legal processes and citizen -centered justice.
To improve the landscape of commercial dispute resolution, NJPMC approved the creation of commercial trial corridor with specialized courts and benches.
In accordance with his commitment to rapid justice, it approved the piloting of a double-docked court regime in selected districts on a basis of needs with optional participation.
The framework for criminal trial courts were also approved to tackle long -range criminal cases through time -bound litigation and optimized legal resources.
In a major step towards strengthening alternative dispute resolution (ADR), the committee approved the launch of a court-anxed mediation regime as a pilot project. This includes the establishment of district mediation facilities, family law mediation centers and standardized SOPs for operational purposes.
In order to ensure consistency and expertise in the district system, NJPMC formed a committee led by a former Supreme Court judge, Justice (RETD) Rehmat Hussain Jaffi.
It will recommend key prestigants adapted to international benchmarks, standardized recruitment and educational mechanisms, addresses differences in service conditions and propose a framework for district judging policy forum and overseas exposure options for judges.
The committee also includes Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice, registrar at High Courts and Federal Judicial Academy General General.
The committee also approved the development of a professional expertise index for talent hunting after lawyers for induction in the judiciary and asked the high courts to end their models within 30 days.
The ethical and political consequences of using generative AI in legal functions were discussed and the National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC) was asked to end a comprehensive charter of ethical use of AI in this regard.
The committee appreciated Punjab Inspector General of Police for its detailed presentation, which suggested various reform intervention on behalf of all IGPs in the provinces and Islamabad.
It also decided that High Courts will issue standard operating procedures (SOP) for participating in trapping prisoners and official witnesses through video link.
It was also decided that the federal and provincial court academies should carry out training for police officers, including district polishers at the request of the respective IGPs.
At the request of AAGP, NJPMC decided that all constitutional petitions relating to tax and financial affairs must be heard and decided by benches in the Supreme Court instead of single benches.
NJPMC appreciated the initiatives of Lahore High Court with regard to the construction of female barracks, daycare and health insurance for judges and their family members. It was decided that all the high courts will turn to their respective provincial governments for similar facilities.
It was also decided that the NJPMC secretariat should take the proposal for consultation with the presidential office before the transfer of ministerial staff to the administrative courts and courts with the federal government.
“NJPMC confirmed its commitment to a progressive, transparent and responsive legal system that was rooted in constitutional values and led by the rule of law,” it added.
