Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has said that judges are not required to seek permission during judicial vacations, but outside of public holidays they must inform before taking leave.
Speaking at the Judicial Conference, the Chief Justice clarified that there is no restriction on judges traveling during vacations. He said a system has been put in place to regulate leave during court working days.
Dispelling misconceptions, he said judges do not take three months of continuous leave, but rather one month at a time during the three-month vacation period, while the rest of the time they sit at the registry.
Regarding security, the Chief Justice said judges do not require excessive protocol inside the Red Zone. Additional security will only be provided outside the Red Zone or in case of a threat. He noted that although he previously had nine security vehicles, he reduced them to two as both his residence and the court are located in the Red Zone.
Highlighting reforms, CJ Afridi said that since taking office he has prioritized the rule of law and initiated reforms on five foundations. These include digital case filing, e-services, free legal aid for those unable to afford counsel, and measures for transparency such as internal audits.
He stressed the need to incorporate artificial intelligence in the justice system, though acknowledging the judiciary is not yet fully prepared for immediate adoption.
The Chief Justice said priority is being given to disposing of cases quickly through technology. He added that requests for early hearings will no longer remain unattended and that cases will be heard in order of filing, not by picking from the bottom of the list.
