CJP Afridi and UN Seek “Citizen-Centric” Justice System

Feb 12, 2026 | Current Affairs

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi met with a high-level delegation of United Nations (UN) officials on Monday, February 9, 2026, to discuss a roadmap for transforming Pakistan’s justice sector. The meeting focused on aligning judicial reforms with international standards to bolster public trust and institutional accountability.

The UN delegation, led by Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya, included representatives from UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF, UNODC, and UNFPA.

A System that Serves the Citizen

The Chief Justice outlined his vision for a justice system that is “responsive, inclusive, and citizen-centric.” Key reform priorities discussed include:

  • Access to Justice: Improving legal pathways for women, children, and marginalized communities.
  • Institutional Efficiency: Reducing case backlogs and leveraging data-driven technology to streamline judicial processes.
  • Accountability: Strengthening governance and transparency within the courts to build public confidence in the rule of law.

Alignment with Global Goals (SDGs)

CJP Afridi emphasized the link between Pakistan’s legal reforms and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically Goal 16, which promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions. He noted that a credible justice system is a “foundational pillar” for sustainable development and democratic governance.

Areas of Future Collaboration

The meeting explored several avenues where UN agencies will provide technical and policy support to the Pakistani judiciary:

Priority Area Planned Intervention
Capacity Building Training for judges and court staff on international best practices.
Technology Implementation of IT-based case management and evidence collection.
Human Rights Strengthening gender-sensitive and child-sensitive justice mechanisms.
Innovation Using evidence-based research to identify and fix systemic legal bottlenecks.

The 2026 Reform Action Plan

This meeting follows the CJP’s earlier commitment to pursue “meaningful reforms” throughout 2026. His ongoing Reform Action Plan has already seen the implementation of 30 out of 89 identified initiatives, including e-courts, QR-coded certified copies, and expanded Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs

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