Islamabad:
The National Judicial Committee (policy formulation) (NJPMC) has decided to protect judicial officers from external influence and has asked the higher courts to establish structured mechanisms to inform and repair such instances within a stipulated period.
A legal body responsible for formulating and implementing the judicial policy, the NJPMC held its 53rd meeting on Friday at the Pakistan Supreme Court.
The meeting chaired by the president of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi was assisted by the main judges of all provincial superior courts, as well as the Superior Court of Islamabad (IHC). The additional attorney general of Pakistan (AAGP) also attended the debatable by special invitation.
According to a statement issued after the meeting, the NJPMC also took a serious note of forced disappearances in the country. The committee unanimously resolved that the Judiciary did not commit to its constitutional duty to safeguard fundamental rights.
In this sense, he formed a dedicated committee to formulate an institutional response, after taking into account the concerns of the Executive, to be communicated through the Pakistan Attorney General (AGP).
The committee deliberated on key policy issues and adopted several significant measures to improve judicial performance, the integration of technology into judicial processes and the delivery of justice centered on citizens.
To improve the panorama of the resolution of commercial disputes, the NJPMC approved the establishment of the commercial litigation corridor, with specialized courts and banks.
In line with his commitment to expedited justice, he supported the piloting of a double memory judicial regime in selected districts in need with an optional participation.
The framework for the Model Criminal Courts was also approved to address the criminal cases pending long data through judgments of time and judicial resources optimized.
In an important step towards strengthening the alternative dispute resolution (ADR), the Committee approved the launch of a mediation regime attached to the Court as a pilot project. This includes the establishment of district mediation facilities, family court mediation centers and standardized SOP for operational purposes.
To guarantee the consistency and excellence in the Judicial Branch of the District, the NJPMC constituted a committee headed by a former Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice (RETD) Rehmat Hussain Jafferi.
It will recommend key performance indicators aligned with international reference points, standardized recruitment and training mechanisms, address disparities in service conditions and propose a framework for the District’s judicial policy forum, as well as opportunities for exposure abroad for judges.
The Committee also includes the Superior Court of Baluchistan (BHC) President of the Supreme Court, the registrars of the Superior Courts and the General Director of the Federal Judicial Academy.
The Committee also approved the development of a professional excellence index for the search for law talents for induction in the Judiciary and asked the higher courts to end their models within 30 days.
The ethical and political implications of the use of generative in judicial functions were discussed, and the National Judicial Automation Committee (NJAC) was asked to end an integral letter on the ethical use of AI in this regard.
The Committee appreciated the Punjab Police Inspector for its detailed presentation proposed by various reform intervention on behalf of all IGP of the provinces and Islamabad.
He also decided that the higher courts will issue standard operational procedures (SOP) to attend trial prisoners and official witnesses through a video link.
It was also decided that federal and provincial judicial academies will carry out training for police officers, including district police officers at the request of the respective PGP.
At the request of the AAGP, the NJPMC decided that all constitutional requests related to tax and financial matters will be heard and decided by banks of the division of the Superior Court instead of individual banks.
The NJPMC appreciated the initiatives of the Superior Court of Lahore with respect to the construction of women’s rooms, nurseries and health insurance for judges and their relatives. It was decided that all higher courts will approach their respective provincial governments for similar facilities.
It was also decided that the NJPMC Secretariat will assume the consultation proposal with the President Office before the transfer of the ministerial personnel of the courts and administrative courts with the federal government.
“The NJPMC reaffirmed its commitment to a progressive, transparent and receptive judicial system, rooted in constitutional values and guided by the rule of law,” he added.
