ISLAMABAD(The COW News Digital) Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi has said changes have been introduced to the judicial code of conduct to help protect judges from external pressure and strengthen their independence.
Addressing a national conference on judicial reforms and timely access to justice, the chief justice said district courts were the backbone of the country’s judicial system and stressed the need to ensure prompt justice for citizens.
Justice Afridi called on judicial institutions to perform their responsibilities effectively and urged young judges to uphold high standards while delivering justice. He said coordination between district courts and high courts needed to be further strengthened.
The chief justice said steps were being taken to address the infrastructure and operational needs of the judiciary across the country. He said courts were being shifted towards solar energy, while improved internet services and e-libraries were also being introduced.
He said basic facilities, including solar power, clean water and internet connectivity, were being provided in courts in different parts of the country. Facilities for women and children were also being developed as part of efforts to improve access to justice.
Speaking about judicial officers, Justice Afridi said a decision had been taken to provide health insurance facilities to judicial officers across Pakistan. He added that a committee had been established to work towards greater uniformity in the facilities and service conditions of judicial officers.
The chief justice said changes to the code of conduct were aimed at making judges more independent from external pressure, adding that the judiciary stood behind judges in protecting their independence.
Justice Afridi also highlighted increased funding for access-to-justice initiatives. He said more than Rs3 billion had been released during the current year for judicial improvement projects. He contrasted this with the approximately Rs900 million released over two decades under the previous Access to Justice Programme.
He said facilities had already been provided in 18 districts of Balochistan, including solar power, water and internet services, while remaining districts were expected to receive the facilities within a month.
The chief justice also emphasised the importance of public confidence in the judiciary. He said trust was not inherited but earned through integrity and responsible conduct.
Justice Afridi said meaningful judicial reform required an understanding of conditions on the ground. He acknowledged that a lack of coordination had existed between district judiciaries and policymaking institutions and said efforts were underway to address the gap.
He also paid tribute to judges who had lost their lives while serving the cause of justice, saying the rule of law remained an essential requirement of the country.
During his address, the chief justice urged judges and judicial officers to conduct themselves with dignity, stressing that public trust and judicial independence were central to a stronger justice system.
