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ISLAMABAD, Oct 09 (APP):The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) concluded Pakistan’s first-ever “Rewiring Rights: Hackathon for Justice” with a dynamic and inspiring finale, marking a milestone in the country’s efforts to harness technology for judicial reform.
Organized in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the European Union (EU) under the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, the four-day event was supported by Accelerate Prosperity (AP) and the National Incubation Center for Aerospace Technologies (NICAT).
The initiative brought together young innovators from across Pakistan to design technology-driven solutions aimed at improving access to justice and enhancing the efficiency of the legal system.
Four finalist teams — LINC, Hukm, Raah-e-Adl, and Stelalliance — presented their innovative ideas before a distinguished panel, showcasing practical solutions to support and strengthen the work of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Building on the outcomes of NCHR’s national conference, “From Promise to Action: Advancing SDG 16 for Justice and Reform,” held earlier in April 2025, the hackathon transformed those policy insights into youth-led innovations for a more accessible, transparent, and rights-based justice system.
The competition concluded with the announcement of Team HUKM as the winner. The team — comprising Minahil Rukhsar, Muhammad Numan Umar, Faiza Mazhar, and Maryam Rukhsar — developed a Centralized Collaborative System for the Supreme Court of Pakistan, aimed at automating and streamlining judicial work-flows.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Rabiya Javeri Agha, Chairperson NCHR, commended the participants for their forward-thinking ideas:Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative of UNDP Pakistan, emphasized the human-centered role of technology:
“Technology is most powerful when it serves people, not just markets. This hackathon reflects exactly that spirit. UNDP is proud to work with NCHR and the EU to turn ideas into action through the creativity and drive of young minds shaping the future of justice in Pakistan.”
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Law and Justice, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting innovation-led reform:
He added that technology, when thoughtfully applied, can serve as a tool for transparency, efficiency, and accountability — ultimately making justice more humane and accessible.
The event was attended by representatives from Jazz, the Malala Fund, various UN agencies, and other international and local stakeholders. The all-women panel of judges — Jehan Ara, founder of Katalyst Labs; Sarah Belal, Executive Director of Justice Project Pakistan; and Rohma Labeeb, Country Director of Accelerate Prosperity — ensured a fair and balanced evaluation of the finalists’ work.