Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi, stated that the issue of missing persons has deeply affected him, expressing great respect for the authority of the High Court, stating that the District Judiciary is under the High Court’s jurisdiction
According to a report by Geo News on Monday, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi met with members of the Supreme Court Press Association, where discussions were held on various issues, including the difficulties faced by journalists during judicial proceedings.
During the meeting, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi emphasized that every judge in the Supreme Court is independent and should not be bracketed. He acknowledged that while judges should face criticism, it should be constructive.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan further mentioned that several reforms have already been implemented in the Supreme Court. He expressed great respect for the authority of the High Court, stating that the District Judiciary is under the High Court’s jurisdiction and that there would be no direct interference in the High Court’s authority or the subordinate judiciary. He emphasized that the direction of the Supreme Court could be altered to improve the delivery of justice.
He revealed that during his visit to Quetta, the Associations raised concerns about missing persons five times. He said that the issue of missing persons had shaken him deeply, and cases related to missing persons would be taken up. He also stressed the importance of considering the concerns of both Baloch and Sindhi people, stating that Sindhi and Baloch judges should be acknowledged.
Chief Justice Afridi mentioned that his vision for the Supreme Court includes collecting the email addresses and WhatsApp numbers of petitioners when a case is filed, so they can receive all orders from filing to the decision.
He also mentioned that a mechanism for hearing urgent petitions is being established. The judges have resolved over 8,000 cases in a short period, and he believes that improving case management can enhance the delivery of justice.
Justice Yahya Afridi noted that special benches have been formed to hear electoral petitions, and similar special benches will be set up for criminal and tax cases.
He further stated that deserving petitioners will be provided free legal assistance in District Judiciary. During visits to prisons, prisoners complained about the prolonged delay in the resolution of their cases, and the Chief Justice expressed his deep embarrassment over these complaints.
He mentioned that in the Supreme Court, two to three old cases would be heard daily in special benches. He has activated the Supreme Judicial Council, and action is underway in response to complaints against judges within the council.
