CJ Yahya Afridi Chairs 46th LJCP Meeting, Legal Reforms and Justice Access Take Center Stage

ISLAMABAD (Roshan Sindh) — Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chairman of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), Mr. Justice Yahya Afridi, presided over the 46th meeting of the Commission held at the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The meeting emphasized the need for comprehensive legal reforms, particularly in the Code of Criminal Procedure and Family Laws, to ensure that Pakistan’s justice system remains relevant, efficient, and people-centered.
These reforms aim to streamline judicial processes, protect citizens’ rights, and enhance fairness and transparency in the administration of justice.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Justices of all High Courts, the Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court, the Attorney General for Pakistan, the Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Interim Chairperson of the National Commission on the Status of Women, along with Senior Advocates Khawaja Haris Ahmed, Kamran Murtaza, and Muhammad Munir Paracha.

The Commission appreciated the proposed amendments in family laws, noting that the changes will help resolve family disputes efficiently and improve the performance of family courts. It also stressed the need to amend the Qanoon-e-Shahadat Order, 1984, to legally recognize evidence obtained through modern technology.

While discussing conflicting court judgments, the Commission observed that such inconsistencies create confusion and undermine the principle of precedent, which subordinate courts are bound to follow.

The LJCP also reviewed the draft Employees (Terms and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2025, and formed a committee comprising the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court and Senior Advocate Muhammad Munir Paracha to finalize the report.

Earlier, Chief Justice Yahya Afridi also chaired the 21st Governing Body meeting of the Access to Justice Development Fund (AJDF). The body reviewed the fund’s performance and implementation progress.

Since its inception in 2005, the AJDF has released Rs. 904.7 million to High Courts for judicial infrastructure and Rs. 166.5 million for special projects in underdeveloped districts. Notably, from July 2024 to September 2025, disbursements surged to Rs. 1,462.3 million for infrastructure development and Rs. 151 million for underdeveloped districts — reflecting a renewed commitment to strengthening judicial facilities nationwide.

Chief Justice Afridi commended the LJCP Secretariat’s exceptional performance and reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to transparency, reform, and accessibility of justice for all.