Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi has said that delays in the justice system not only erode public trust but also impede economic growth and development. Addressing a conference on Pakistan’s international disputes at hotel in Karachi, he said swift and efficient dispensation of justice remains the core tenet of the legal system.
Chief Justice Abbasi said that being CJ of the high court he held an immense responsibility of upholding the principle of swift and efficient dispensation of justice and ensuring that all citizens have access to fair and timely resolution of their disputes. “It is through a resolute commitment to this ideal that we can truly build a nation where justice prevails for all,” he said.
Regarding challenges being faced by the judiciary, Justice Abbasi said that the judiciary is acutely aware of these challenges and are constantly striving for innovative solutions. He said Sindh’s judiciary is actively working on improving access to justice and this includes recognizing the importance and establishment of well-functioning commercial courts for efficient resolution of business disputes.
The CJ said the Sindh judiciary was also exploring the implementation of the alternative dispute resolution act offering a more accessible and streamlined option for resolving conflicts outside the traditional court system. He noted that the provincial judiciary introduced and implemented mediation as a preferred form of dispute resolution and the Sindh judicial academy had played its role in training judges and lawyers as accredited mediators, and we strive to keep on training people to build this ecosystem.
Chief Justice Abbasi said a proposal for exploring mediation, conciliation and negotiation as alternative methods of dispute resolution got its first recognition in Pakistan some 15 years ago and at such a point it received a lukewarm response. He said there was in fact resistance from the bar which viewed mediation as a process that would diminish the legal practice. However, he said since then keeping in view of economic growth and international contracts, the approach to resolving disputes without having recourse to traditional court litigation, the ADR has picked up global momentum and there has also been a sea change in the perception of ADR in Pakistan.
He said the bar and the bench are on board which is manifested in the convention and people must have heard from speakers about the positive impact of expeditious dispute resolution on economic progress and about the dynamics of ADR. He said the ADR provides an opportunity to reduce pendency in court and it offers the parties a less expensive and far quicker model of dispute resolution, opens up an additional avenue for legal practitioners and also as to what role the judges can play in its promotion and implementation.
Regarding the implementation of the ADR legal framework applicable to Sindh, the SHC CJ said the provincial judiciary had established a process for according recognition to eligible ADR centres and two such centres had been accorded recognition while others were under process.
