Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Khan Afridi on Monday said that the judiciary must move away from the traditional court-centric system and become citizen-centric, because the real standard of justice is that every citizen of the country has access to justice without discrimination, easy, fast and effective.
Real justice ensures fast, easy, equal legal access for everyone: Justice Yahya
QUETTA, Aug 31 (APP):Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Khan Afridi on Monday said that the judiciary must move away from the traditional court-centric system and become citizen-centric, because the real standard of justice is that every citizen of the country has access to justice without discrimination, easy, fast and effective.
He said that technology is the means of providing justice, while justice is the real goal, therefore the digital system would be effective only when it makes justice more fast, transparent and in line with human requirements.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan mentioned that the establishment of the Public Facilitation Center is not just the inauguration of a building or facility, but is a practical expression of the fundamental commitment that justice should be within the reach of every citizen.
He expressed these views while addressing the inauguration of the newly constructed Public Facilitation Center in the premises of the Balochistan High Court Quetta.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Federal Constitutional Court Judge Justice Rozi Khan Bareach, Supreme Court Judges Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Balochistan High Court Judges Justice Iqbal Kasi, Justice Gul Hassan Tareen, Justice Sardar Ahmed Halimi, Justice Shaukat Ali Rakhshani, Justice Muhammad Amir Nawaz Rana, Justice Abdul Qayyum Lehri and Justice Allah Dad Roshan, Balochistan High Court Registrar Nasir Khan Yousafzai, Additional Chief Secretary Development Zahid Saleem, Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Hamza Shafqat, Secretary Finance Muhammad Jahangir Kakar, Secretary Works and Communications Babar Khan, IG Police Balochistan Muhammad Tahir, Balochistan Bar Council members Afzal Harifal Advocate and Rahab Buledi, Balochistan High Court Bar Association President Mir Attaullah Langov, General Secretary Syed Najabuddin Agha, other office bearers and a large number of lawyers.
On this occasion, Fateha was also offered for the martyrdom of Shaheed District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and other martyred lawyers.
Earlier, the Chief Justice of Pakistan inaugurated the Facilitation Center and visited its various departments to review the facilities provided to litigants and lawyers.
Addressing the ceremony, Justice Yahya Afridi congratulated Balochistan High Court Chief Justice, Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Malakhel on the establishment of the Facilitation Center.
He said that this initiative is an important step towards a broader change in the justice system, the aim of which is to transform the court-centered system into a citizen-centered system.
He said that using technology in the judicial system in the best possible way is an important means of making the delivery of justice more accessible, effective and in line with the needs of litigants, however, technology should not be considered a substitute for reforms.
Justice Yahya Afridi clarified that technology itself is not reform, technology is a means while justice is the real goal, we have to keep this goal in mind at all times so that the delivery of justice becomes fast, transparent, effective and people-friendly through the use of modern technology.
He said that coming to Balochistan is a source of joy and honor for him and the people of Balochistan have always bestowed love and respect on him.
He mentioned that the establishment of the Public Facilitation Center would provide immediate and effective facilities to the litigants and lawyers, while the process of dispensation of justice could be easier and faster.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan said that it is desirable that such facility centers could be established in every district and tehsil of Balochistan. He said that steps are being taken to provide judicial facilities across the country and make the justice system more accessible to the common citizen under the National Judicial Policy Making Committee.
He described that in the future, basic needs would also be taken care of in the facility centers, which would include uninterrupted solar energy, high-speed internet, dignified and specific places for women litigants, clean drinking water and other basic public facilities.
While calling cooperation between the judiciary and lawyers indispensable for judicial reforms, The Chief Justice of Pakistan said that the bench and the bar must work together for sustainable reforms.
He said that the legal community is an important partner in the improvement of the justice system and judicial reforms could not succeed without collective efforts.
He expressed his determination that the judiciary is not the name of a distant and isolated institution but is established to serve the people adding that the judiciary exists only for the citizen and the justice system should be continuously improved according to the needs of the people.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan also paid tribute to the sacrifices of Shaheed District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and the 54 lawyers who were martyred.
He said that the sacrifices of the martyrs associated with the legal profession are the moral foundation of the rule of law in the country.
Justice Yahya Afridi said that the best way to pay tribute to the martyrs of August 8 is to continue their struggle and take practical steps to provide justice to the people.
On this occasion, Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Malakhel said that a facilitation center has been established in the Balochistan High Court to ensure the delivery of justice and provide basic facilities to the litigants.
He stated that in a period of just six months, an excellent facilitation center was established, where litigants and lawyers would be provided with various types of legal assistance and guidance.
He said that any litigant who wants to file a case or needs information and assistance related to a case already under trial could benefit from the facilitation center.
He said that various judicial services would be provided to litigants, lawyers and the public at one place through the facilitation center.
The Chief Justice Balochistan High Court further said that the purpose of establishing SOPs related to security is to ensure the protection of all concerned persons including the judiciary and lawyers.
The facilitation center has been established for litigants, lawyers and the public, therefore, discipline and adherence to the prescribed procedure are essential, he said.
