ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, in his capacity as the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) chairman, visited the Judicial Complex in Fort Abbas, district Bahawalnagar, reaffirming the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring equal access to justice in remote and underserved regions of the country. Fort Abbas, described as the last judicial post of Punjab due to its geographical remoteness and limited resources, was the focus of a comprehensive review of court operations, infrastructure, and litigant facilitation services. Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum accompanied the CJP during the visit, reflecting coordinated institutional efforts to strengthen justice delivery at the grassroots level.
During the visit, the CJP inspected court functioning and highlighted that constitutional guarantees must not depend on geography. He stressed that even remote judicial stations must reflect institutional dignity, operational efficiency and responsiveness to the public. Four priority reform projects under the current phase of LJCP’s development framework were highlighted. These include solarisation of courts to ensure uninterrupted power supply, provision of e-libraries, establishment of women-centric facilities and installation of drinking water plants. The projects are scheduled for completion by August 2026 to strengthen infrastructure and enhance technological integration. In the presence of the CJP and the LHC chief justice, the district and sessions judge Bahawalnagar inaugurated the newly established e-library and solarisation facility at the Judicial Complex. The initiatives are aimed at improving judicial research capacity and ensuring sustainable court operations in a climate-sensitive region. The CJP appreciated the Punjab government for executing the solarisation project within the stipulated timeline. The district and sessions judge also performed the groundbreaking of a Women Bar Room and inaugurated an e-library for the Bar, marking a step toward creating a more inclusive and professionally enabling environment for women lawyers. It was further announced that in fiscal year 2026-27, the reform agenda will move into a socially responsive phase with the establishment of dedicated Women Facilitation Centres within court complexes. These centres will offer integrated services including free legal aid, psycho-social support, mediation and family visitation arrangements, gender-based violence victim support and child protection services. The CJP directed infrastructural and service gaps be formally documented to ensure follow-up under the LJCP’s monitoring mechanisms.
