ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi chaired a senior-level meeting at the Supreme Court on Wednesday to assess progress on judicial reform initiatives under the Reform Action Plan, according to an official statement.
The session reviewed the court’s monthly achievements, including successful completion of targets related to electronic filing systems and the issuance of certified copies. Officials reported that the case categorization process is underway and expected to conclude within two months, while a new barcoding system for file management will be implemented within the next 15 days.
The Chief Justice was briefed on the reduction of pending death penalty cases—from 384 when he took office to 107 currently. Over the past year, 449 death penalty cases have been resolved, with 172 new cases filed during this period. The meeting resolved that all remaining death penalty appeals will be addressed within 45 days, with life imprisonment cases being scheduled concurrently. Officials noted that pending life imprisonment cases have decreased from 4,160 to 3,608.
It was also decided that jail petitions for inmates over 80 years old will be prioritized. The court will generally provide a 48-hour notice for case delisting and will directly schedule early hearings for requests meeting specified criteria.
Participants were informed that the new cause list will be issued one month in advance. The digitization of court records has been completed, the Public Facilitation Center is active, and initiatives such as alternative dispute resolution, mediation, and e-payments are progressing.
The officials indicated that standardization and quality assurance efforts are targeted for completion by August 30, 2026.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi underscored that delivering justice promptly is both a constitutional duty and a moral responsibility.
