Chief Justice Afridi calls for facilitation centres at district and tehsil level

QUETTA: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi has said that setting up a public facilitation centre is an important step towards bringing justice within the reach of every citizen. He said technology and modern infrastructure are tools of judicial reform, but their purpose is to make the judicial process faster, more transparent, accessible and people-friendly.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the public facilitation centre at the Balochistan High Court, the Chief Justice of Pakistan praised the efforts of Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and the court. He said distance, lack of information and other practical difficulties can stand in the way of ordinary citizens seeking justice. It is therefore necessary to provide facilities in judicial institutions that meet the needs of citizens.

He said judicial reform is not possible through technology or buildings alone. The bench and the lawyers must work together to improve the justice system. He made it clear that the facilitation centre at the Balochistan High Court is not the project of any one individual but part of the policy of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee.

Four priorities of the Access to Justice Fund

The Chief Justice of Pakistan said facilitation centres should not remain limited to high courts. They should also be extended to district and tehsil level, so that citizens can find basic judicial facilities and guidance close to home.

He said that under the Access to Justice Fund, attention is being given to providing four basic facilities across the country. These are uninterrupted electricity or solar power, uninterrupted internet, suitable facilities for women and clean drinking water.

Praising the services of the judiciary and lawyers of Balochistan, the Chief Justice of Pakistan paid tribute to the judges and lawyers who were martyred while performing their judicial duties. He said the true tribute to the martyrs is to advance the rule of law and the delivery of justice to the people. He said the purpose of the public facilitation centre is to reduce the distance between the court and the citizen and make it easier for ordinary people to obtain justice.

Photo: Courtesy DGPR Balochistan