Supreme Court establishes Overseas Litigants Facilitation Cell

Recognizing the difficulties faced by overseas litigants in securing timely and convenient access to justice, CJP Yahya Afridi has taken notice of the matter and has established the Overseas Litigants Facilitation Cell (OLFC) with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/JyKeAH8egi

The court clarified that only cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court will be registered with the facilitation cell. Every individual residing abroad will be considered an overseas litigant under this initiative. Overseas litigants will be able to submit applications and complaints directly to the apex court. The facility will also allow them to file requests for early hearings in pending cases.

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In addition, the court said that case details and certified copies of judgments will be made available online. The entire process will be digitised, with all records preserved electronically to ensure transparency and easy access.

Supreme Court said the establishment of the facilitation cell reflects the judiciary’s resolve to address these concerns. “This initiative reflects the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that access to justice is not hindered by distance and that overseas litigants can effectively pursue their rights before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, ” the statement concluded.

According to Migrant Resource Centre, Pakistan has one of the largest expatriate communities in the world, with over nine million citizens living abroad. The diaspora contributes significantly to the country’s economy through remittances but has long faced difficulties in pursuing legal matters back home due to distance and bureaucratic hurdles.