Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has described the Supreme Court as a “Titanic” that cannot be fundamentally changed but can chart a better course with reforms.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the Supreme Court Press Association, he outlined his vision for improving judicial efficiency and accessibility, Express News reported.
During visits to Gwadar and Quetta, CJP Afridi said the missing persons cases left him deeply shaken. He promised to prioritize such cases and emphasized the importance of recognizing Sindhi and Balochi judges while offering free legal aid to underprivileged litigants.
Justice Afridi emphasized that each Supreme Court judge operates independently and encourages constructive criticism rather than personal attacks.
He highlighted the need for reforms, including improved case management and digital tools to keep court cases updated via email and WhatsApp messages, from filing to final decision.
On the challenges of the judiciary, Justice Afridi revealed that urgent requests are being streamlined, with judges clearing 8,000 cases in a short time.
He also suggested setting up special benches for electoral disputes, criminal cases and tax cases.
The Chief Justice expressed regret at prisoners’ complaints about protracted trials and promised to speed up older cases through daily special court sessions.
The Supreme Judicial Council has also been reactivated to deal with complaints against judges.
Justice Afridi praised Justice Mansoor Ali Shah for promoting alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, for proposing training of retired judges and initiating the system in Islamabad before expanding it nationwide.
Reflecting on the judiciary, Afridi acknowledged past tensions but maintained optimism about the judiciary’s progress.
“Time will heal; we must move forward with collective wisdom,” he said, noting that the judiciary is recovering from a challenging period of intense backlog.
