Lahore, 27 April 2024 (GNP): Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, in a keynote address at the Fifth Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore, voiced dissatisfaction with the institution’s historical performance, noting the presence of both positive and negative aspects.
Justice Shah pointed out that the judiciary should not function based on individual recommendations and emphasized that judges who fail to perform should be removed from the system.
Expressing the importance of moving away from a culture of individualism, Justice Shah noted that transparency and systemic focus are crucial for the judiciary’s progress.
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He criticized the history of the judiciary, acknowledging that controversial judgments have led to international criticism and a poor global ranking—Pakistan currently ranks 130th in the world for the efficacy of its judicial system.
Additionally, 2.4 million cases remain pending, with 90% of these residing in the district courts.
To address these issues, Justice Shah proposed several key reforms suggesting that the Supreme Judicial Council should be strengthened, allowing for more effective oversight, while advocating for the creation of data analysis rooms to streamline case management.
Furthermore, Justice Shah highlighted the necessity of embracing technology to reduce the case backlog.
He stated that if the judiciary does not modernize by integrating Information Technology (IT), it will struggle to address the overwhelming number of pending cases.