Yahya Afridi pushes for modern judicial infrastructure in remote regions

Highlights need for gender-sensitive facilities, expanded video-link services to improve access to justice

ISLAMABAD:

Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has expressed serious concern over the lack of basic judicial infrastructure in remote areas during a high-level meeting of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

The meeting, chaired by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), was attended by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice SM Attique Shah, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) chief secretary, and the K-P secretary of finance.

According to an official statement issued after the meeting, CJP Afridi stressed the need for targeted and urban-centric measures to reduce regional disparities and improve access to justice in remote areas.

He said future judicial infrastructure should be equipped with modern facilitation centres, with special emphasis on gender-sensitive and women-friendly facilities.

The meeting was briefed on nationwide initiatives underway under the Access to Justice Funds administered by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP). The PHC chief justice also briefed the meeting on the establishment of family court blocks in Peshawar and Swat.

Participants reaffirmed the joint commitment of the judiciary and the provincial government to strengthening judicial infrastructure, enhancing public facilitation, and ensuring equal access to justice across the K-P in accordance with constitutional requirements and national policy objectives.

During the meeting, discussions were also held on the use of video-link facilities for district administration officers in sensitive areas. Directions were issued to ensure the immediate availability of such facilities wherever required.