ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and Chairperson of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) Justice Yahya Afridi on Thursday held a consultative meeting with representatives of provincial bar councils, the Islamabad Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan to discuss the proposed e-filing pilot for family cases and the establishment of Women Facilitation Centres.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Bar Councils, along with office-bearers of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
The participants reviewed draft e-filing templates developed under the proposed National Unified E-Filing and Electronic Judicial Record System for pilot implementation in family cases at selected judicial stations.
The chief justice asked each provincial bar council and the Islamabad Bar Council to nominate two members of the Bar to review the templates and suggest improvements before the launch of the pilot project.
Emphasising the importance of consultation with the legal fraternity, the CJP said the e-filing system should be practical, effective and user-friendly, reflecting the professional experience of practising lawyers and the needs of litigants.
The bar representatives appreciated the proposed e-filing initiative and the establishment of Women Facilitation Centres, observing that these measures could improve access to justice, particularly for women, and make the family justice system more accessible and responsive.
The consultation reflected a shared commitment to involving the legal fraternity in judicial reforms, using technology to improve court services and strengthening access to justice for women and children.