It says the guidelines position AI as a powerful assistive tool that will improve performance while preserving human judgment.
Police officers walk past Pakistan’s Supreme Court building, in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 6, 2022. REUTERS
The National Judicial Policy Development Committee (NJPMC) on Wednesday formally issued national guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in judicial institutions.
According to the statement issued by the Supreme Court, the NJPMC, at its 57th meeting, established a “clear and forward-looking framework” for integrating AI into judicial processes across the country.
“At a time when courts face growing caseloads and increasing demands for efficiency and transparency, the guidelines position AI as a powerful assistive tool, improving judicial performance while firmly preserving human judgment, constitutional safeguards and judicial independence,” he said.
The statement also highlighted that key guidelines included a human-centred approach that will “assist, not replace, judicial decision-making, ensuring that judges remain the final arbiters.”
He added that ethical and transparent use was a priority, with strong safeguards to reduce bias and focus on explainability and accountability.
The guidelines also emphasized data protection, ensuring strict data privacy and security standards to protect litigants and interested parties.
Practical applications of AI include assisting in “case management, legal research, predictive analytics, and document processing.”
The guidelines call for capacity building and training of judges and court staff to ensure responsible use of emerging technologies.
The statement said the framework was developed through an extensive consultation process led by the National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC), headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar. Comments from all high courts and expert institutions were incorporated, aligning the guidelines with international best practices while respecting Pakistan’s constitutional and institutional context.
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While establishing a unified national standard, “the guidelines respect the administrative and judicial autonomy of the superior courts, allowing each jurisdiction to adapt implementation according to its specific needs and capabilities.”
He added that the initiative marked an “important milestone in Pakistan’s judicial reform journey: striking a careful balance between technological innovation and the enduring principles of justice, equity and independence.”
