ISLAMABAD  -  Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi Friday emphasized that the independence and safety of judges, particularly of the District Judiciary is essential for the fair and effective delivery of justice.

CJP Yahya stated this during his visit to the Bannu Bench of the Peshawar High Court to express his solidarity with the judges working in challenging environment. During the visit, the Chief Justice met with Chief Justice Peshawar High Court S. M. Attique Shah, and held detailed discussions on institutional capacity building for both the judiciary and the legal fraternity. He also engaged with PHC judges, members of the District Judiciary including Karak, Bannu, Lakki and North Waziristan, and representatives of the legal community posted in Bannu.

Key deliberations centred around the agenda of the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC), with particular emphasis on institutional synergy, judicial capacity enhancement, and legal education reforms. These priorities were reiterated and thoroughly discussed with members of the judiciary and the bar.

Topics included the importance of addressing commercial litigation and the proposal for establishing a dedicated Commercial Litigation Corridor; the introduction of Double Docket Courts as an optional feature involving cooperation among parties, the bench, and the bar; the expansion of court-annexed mediation; and the revival of Model Criminal Courts to address delayed cases.

The CJP also emphasized the urgent need for judicial automation. The importance of facilitating foreign training and exposure visits for judges serving in such areas was acknowledged, alongside the principle that the most competent judges be posted to underdeveloped regions. Lastly, the development of a Performance Excellence Index for judicial officers was discussed as a tool to promote merit, transparency, and accountability. A prominent topic of discussion was the proposal to integrate standardized training modules for apprentice lawyers. In this regard, Bar Councils across the country have been invited to submit a joint proposal to be considered for inclusion in the upcoming NJPMC meeting.

This initiative represents a significant move towards harmonizing legal education and practical training nationwide.

As part of his broader agenda for CJS reforms, the Chief Justice also visited local correctional facilities.

During his inspection of the jail, he reviewed prison conditions, visited the hospital and kitchen, inaugurated a new Drug Rehabilitation Centre, and interacted with inmates to understand their concerns.

In a notable instance, when the jail authorities were asked to present the inmate with the oldest pending case from the condemned category before the Supreme Court, they took the Chief Justice to prisoner Bahadur Khan. The Chief Justice expressed regret over the prolonged delay in his case, which had remained pending since 2019. Despite clear policy guidelines stating that no case of a condemned prisoner should remain unresolved beyond 2024, he was informed that the matter had only recently been decided on April 23, 2025.

Despite repeated efforts to encourage inmates to voice any concerns, no prisoner responded in the presence of jail authorities.

The Chief Justice underscored the importance of ensuring transparency, humane treatment, and accountability within the prison system, in accordance with constitutional principles and international standards.