ISLAMABAD (Hayat News)— The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) hosted a groundbreaking international symposium titled “Use of Technology in the Judicial System in Pakistan: Prospects and Promises,” bringing together a distinguished panel of Supreme Court judges, global legal experts, and senior government officials to discuss how digital innovation can modernize Pakistan’s justice system.
Justice Shahid Waheed of the Supreme Court of Pakistan opened the dialogue with a comprehensive overview of the advancements and ongoing challenges in integrating information technology into Pakistan’s judicial processes. He highlighted key achievements while pointing out the structural hurdles that must be addressed to fully realize a tech-enabled justice system.
The event featured insights from international thought leaders, including Ms. Li Xiaohui from China’s Supreme People’s Court, who shared lessons from China’s journey toward judicial digitization. Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Rector of Istanbul Technical University, offered a global perspective on technological adoption in judicial institutions, while Prof. Dr. Çetin Elmas from Gazi University, Türkiye, focused on the growing impact of artificial intelligence in modernizing legal systems.
Federal Secretary for IT and Telecom, Mr. Zarrar Hasham Khan, outlined Pakistan’s broader digital roadmap and emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration to accelerate judicial reforms.
In a keynote address, Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, emphasized that adopting technology in the courts is not merely an upgrade—it is essential for enhancing accessibility, transparency, and efficiency. He described the symposium as timely and aligned with the upcoming deliberations of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC).
The Chief Justice commended Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, and other Supreme Court judges for their leadership through the National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC) and praised the LJCP for organizing this visionary initiative.
He warmly welcomed the international delegates and extended gratitude to Justice Zhang Jun, Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of China, and Justice Kadir Ozkaya, Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of Türkiye, for their continued support and commitment to cross-border judicial cooperation.
Highlighting recent digital strides, the Chief Justice mentioned the Supreme Court’s adoption of e-filing, judgment QR codes, expanded video-link hearings, a citizen feedback portal, and the application of data analytics in case management. He acknowledged ongoing challenges such as the digital divide, the need for updated legal frameworks, and cybersecurity risks.
Justice Afridi underscored that resistance to change must not stall progress. He called for a comprehensive national framework to guide judicial digitization—one that includes strong cybersecurity, ethical AI standards, and broad-based collaboration among high courts, judicial academies, government bodies, academic institutions, and the legal profession.
He concluded by affirming that technology, when implemented responsibly, is a transformative force that can strengthen public trust, remove barriers to justice, and improve the overall quality of judicial service. He urged all stakeholders to unite in building a justice system that serves today’s citizens and inspires confidence in generations to come.
The symposium stood as a testament to the judiciary’s unwavering commitment to innovation, transparency, and delivering justice that is both efficient and citizen-focused.
