The Pakistan Supreme Court has implemented the rules of the 2025 Supreme Court, aimed at modernizing judicial procedures, adopting digital technology and improving access to justice.
According to an official statement, the new rules have been framed to meet the modern requirements of the Judiciary.
A committee comprised of Judge Shahid Waheed, Judge Irfan Saadat, Judge Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Judge Aqeel Abbasi prepared the rules.
The Committee consulted the Judges of the Supreme Court, the Pakistan Bar Association, the Supreme Court Association and other lawyer associations. His proposals were presented to the complete court, which approved the 2025 rules after deliberation.
Read: SC Check the judicial procedures
Prominent key of the SC 2025 rules
The Pakistan Supreme Court has formally implemented the 2025 rules that replace the rules since 1980.
Framed under article 191 of the Constitution, the new rules entered into immediate effect after the approval of the full court.
They were written by a committee that includes Judges Shahid Waheed, Irfan Saadat Khan, Naeem Akhter Afghan and Aqed Ahmed Abbasi, after consultations with judges, law advice and legal associations.
The 2025 rules introduce the electronic presentation of requests and paper books, the digital issuance of notices and orders, video links and online access to case records.
They also review the court fees, improve legal assistance provisions, extend the time limits for appeals and reviews and formalize constitutional banks.
Other changes include simplified procedures to convene records of the lower courts, provisions for intra-Court appeals under article 184 (3), sanctions for frivolous litigation and greater powers for the registrar. Defenders can now choose between a sherwani or a short black layer, with optional made dresses.
The court described reforms as a “transformative vision” to offer timely justice, reduce procedural rigidity and integrate modern legal practices.
The full text of the rules is available on the website of the Supreme Court.
SCBAP denies the consultation on the increase in the judicial rate
The Lawyer Association of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCBAP) denied on Thursday the claims of the Supreme Court that it had been consulted on the introduction of the rules of the 2025 Supreme Court, specifically on a substantial increase in judicial fees.
In a statement, the SCBAP said that no discussions or meetings were held with their representatives about the reviewed rates program and asked the authorities to release the minutes of any meeting that shows their participation.
The association also said that it was not aware of any committee formed by the Supreme Court to address possible problems derived from the increase in rates.
“The drastic increase in judicial rates will not contribute to affordable and fast access to justice,” said the SCBAP, warning that the measure undermined the principle of economic justice under article 37 (d) of the Constitution, created obstacles to lawyers and litigants, and weakened public confidence in the judicial trial.
The SCBAP reaffirmed its support for the legal community and the public to oppose the increase, asking for its immediate retirement.
