In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday requested Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi for expeditious disposal of tax-related cases on merit.
The request was made during a meeting between the country's top chief executive and the top adjudicator wherein the issue of tax-related cases that had been pending for adjudication, for long, in different courts of the country came under discussion.
As of January 2025, as many as 33,522 cases worth Rs4.7 trillion are currently pending nationwide in various courts and tribunals.
According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court, the premier visited the chief justice's house at the invitation of the CJP Afridi.
The prime minister congratulated the chief justice on assuming his responsibilities and also expressed good wishes for him.
During the meeting, the chief justice shared the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) and sought the input of the government.
"The move is part of the chief justice's overall reform agenda intending reduction in the pendency and providing speedy justice to the people of Pakistan," the SC statement said.
The chief justice informed the prime minister that he would also be taking the opposition parties' input and wishes that his reform programme should carry bi-partisan support so that the "reforms are consistent, sustainable and more impactful".
He appreciated the chief justice for undertaking visits to far-flung areas of Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, south Punjab and interior Sindh and his consultations with all the stakeholders for the provision of effective and speedy justice, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan, Registrar Supreme Court Muhammad Saleem Khan and Secretary Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan Tanzeela Sabahat.
During the meeting, the prime minister also discussed the country's economic situation and security challenges.
The CJP sought proposals for bringing further reforms in the justice system and welcomed the prime minister's discussion over the subject.
The prime minister assured the CJP of expediting the effective measures with regard to missing persons.
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