Islamabad – Reaffirming the constitutional guarantee of equal access to justice across all regions of the country, Hon’ble the Chief Justice of Pakistan, in his capacity as Chairman of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), undertook a field visit to the Judicial Complex, Fort Abbas, District Bahawalnagar – the last judicial post of the Province of Punjab, situated in a geographically remote and resource-constrained area. The Hon’ble Chief Justice, Lahore High Court, graciously accompanied His Lordship during the visit, reflecting institutional synergy and a shared commitment to strengthening justice delivery at the grassroots level.
The visit forms part of a continuing outreach initiative aimed at engaging the District Judiciary, the Bars, and litigants in the farthest and underserved districts of the country. The earlier visits to Gwadar, Sadiqabad, Ghotki, Booni, and Nagarparkar – spanning all provinces – underscore a steadfast commitment to bridging systemic gaps in justice service delivery and to assuming institutional ownership of ensuring that the dispensation of justice meaningfully reaches even the most remote regions of Pakistan.
At the Judicial Complex, Fort Abbas, the Hon’ble Chief Justice undertook a comprehensive review of court functioning, infrastructure adequacy, and litigant facilitation mechanisms. His Lordship emphasized that the effectiveness of constitutional guarantees must not be contingent upon geography, and that even the most remote judicial stations must embody institutional dignity, operational efficiency, and public responsiveness.
It was reiterated during the visit that the four priority reform projects identified under the current phase of the LJCP’s development framework, including solarization of courts (uninterrupted power supply), provision of e-libraries, establishment of women-centric facilities, and installation of drinking water plants, shall be completed by the end of August 2026. These projects are aimed at ensuring time-bound strengthening of essential court infrastructure, technological integration, and improved public service facilities.
In the esteemed presence of both the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief Justice, Lahore High Court, the learned District & Sessions Judge, Bahawalnagar, inaugurated the newly established e-Library and solarization facility. These initiatives are intended to enhance judicial research capacity and ensure sustainable, uninterrupted court operations in a climate-sensitive and resource-constrained region. While acknowledging its planning and budgetary support, the Chief Justice of Pakistan appreciated the Government of Punjab for the execution of the solarization project at the Judicial Complex, Fort Abbas, within the timeline.
On the occasion, the District & Sessions Judge, Bahawalnagar, also performed the groundbreaking of the Women Bar Room and the inauguration of the e-library for Bar, marking a significant step toward fostering a dignified, inclusive, and professionally enabling environment for women members of the Bar, in the esteemed presence of Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan. The initiative reflects the judiciary’s institutional commitment to promoting gender inclusion within justice sector spaces.
The Hon’ble Chief Justice witnessed the court proceedings in the court of Worthy Civil Judge, held a detailed interaction with Judges posted at Fort Abbas and adjoining areas, appreciating their dedication in administering justice under challenging conditions. He encouraged continued adherence to high standards of integrity, efficiency, and sensitivity toward litigants, while assuring institutional support for capacity enhancement and infrastructural improvements. The dialogue focused on practical challenges faced at the station, including human resource constraints, technological needs, and service delivery gaps. The Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan appreciated the existing litigant-related services and shared that these services should be available at the entrance of the court premises on the analogy of a public Facilitation center in the Supreme Court to serve all essential services to the litigants under one roof and further enhance access, efficiency, and public convenience.
An interactive session was also convened with members of the Bar, where constructive bench–bar engagement was emphasized as indispensable to effective justice delivery. Members of the Bar highlighted operational concerns and offered suggestions for procedural streamlining. The Chief Justice of Pakistan underscored that mutual respect, professional cooperation, and shared responsibility between the Bench and the Bar remain foundational to sustaining public confidence in the justice system.
It was further highlighted that the reform trajectory will advance into a socially responsive phase during the fiscal year 2026–27, with focused establishment of dedicated Women Facilitation Centers as part of court complexes. These centers will provide integrated services, including:
Free legal aid Psycho-social services
Mediation and family visitation arrangements Gender-Based Violence (GBV) victim support services
Child protection and support services
His Lordship observed that courts must evolve into inclusive service institutions that address not only adjudication, but also the vulnerabilities of women, children, and marginalized segments of society.
Directions were issued for formal documentation of infrastructural and service gaps to ensure structured follow-up under the LJCP’s monitoring and reform mechanisms.
The visit to Fort Abbas symbolizes an unwavering resolve to translate constitutional ideals into tangible institutional progress, ensuring that justice remains accessible, inclusive, and meaningful even at the outermost judicial frontiers of the country.
