ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has said that no deserving litigant should go unrepresented, and every citizen — regardless of financial means — must have access to legal advice and assistance.
The CJP, in his capacity as chairman of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), on Monday chaired the 47th meeting of the commission at the Supreme Court. The meeting deliberated upon proposals for advancing law reform in line with constitutional mandates and contemporary societal needs.
The meeting was attended, on special invitation, by Federal Constitutional Court Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan. Participants included the Islamabad High Court chief justice, Additional Attorney-General for Pakistan; the law and justice secretary, National Commission on the Status of Women acting chairperson and lawyers Muhammad Munir Paracha and Kamran Murtaza.
Additionally, the Lahore High Court, Peshawar High Court, Sindh High Court and Balochistan High Court chief justices attended virtually, along with Justice (retd) Shaiq Usmani and Barrister Sajid Zahid Advocate.
Under its statutory mandate to recommend reforms for improving the justice system, the LJCP undertook a comprehensive review of key reform initiatives. These included Family Laws, the Code of Criminal Procedure, procedural reforms for the e-filing of cases, and other areas requiring legislative modernisation.
The commission tasked the LJCP Secretariat with developing a comprehensive framework for a free legal aid and advisory mechanism. This will include systemic arrangements in collaboration with the high courts and bar regulatory bodies. The framework will explore modalities for institutionalising pro bono commitments and funding through the relevant window of the Access to Justice Development Fund. The initiative is aimed at ensuring that no deserving litigant goes unrepresented and that every citizen, regardless of financial means, has access to legal advice and assistance.
The commission reaffirmed its resolve to pursue inclusive and responsive law reforms in order to strengthen an accessible, efficient and equitable justice system for all. Officials said the initiative reflects a broader commitment to inclusive and responsive law reform. The commission reaffirmed its resolve to strengthen an accessible, efficient, and equitable justice system, ensuring that financial hardship does not become a barrier to legal representation or fair adjudication.
