Supreme Court Warns of Justice Delays, Calls for Digital Reforms
Islamabad – The Supreme Court of Pakistan has raised serious concerns over the country’s mounting backlog of cases, warning that prolonged delays in justice are eroding public trust and weakening the rule of law.
In a written judgment authored by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha Malik, the court observed that justice delayed often amounts to justice denied, stressing that such delays place a heavier burden on vulnerable communities who cannot afford lengthy litigation.
The judgment revealed startling figures, noting that more than 2.2 million cases are pending in courts across Pakistan, including nearly 55,941 cases in the Supreme Court alone. The court cautioned that this backlog not only affects citizens but also discourages investment and undermines institutional credibility.
To address the crisis, the justices called for an urgent shift to a modern and accountable case management system, highlighting the role of digital tools and artificial intelligence in speeding up judicial processes and ensuring timely justice.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s Practice and Procedure Committee has introduced new rules for 2025 under the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Act, 2023. The rules were approved during a meeting chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, with Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Aminuddin Khan also serving on the committee.
According to the official notification, the Chief Justice can convene committee meetings either physically or virtually, ensuring greater flexibility in judicial administration.
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