ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday was informed by the Task Force on Civil Law Reforms that a policy had been devised to reform the Code of Civil Procedure for its compatibility with modern issues.
A report in this regard was submitted by the task force on behalf of the Law and Justice Division, stating that it seeks to provide “fair, substantial, inexpensive and speedy justice”. The report also stated that on the recommendations of Federal Minister for Law and Justice Dr Farogh Naseem, a core team, focus on the task of civil law reforms, had been created which has also started the process of drafting amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure in line with the policy of the incumbent government. The report further stated that it was recommended by the law minister that recommendations made by senior lawyer Zafar Iqbal Kalanuri pertaining to issues affecting the civil justice system, be taken into consideration for effective alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods.
The terms of reference (ToR) of the task force include: the speedy and effective disposal of cases; ensuring fair trial; possibilities for an effective ADR; reduction of incompetence and corruption; amendment of archaic substantive and procedural civil laws; adjudication according to accepted judicial and statutory principles of law; expansion of the judiciary with respect to the number of judges; provision of even-handed justice; and a complete overhaul of the civil justice system, including the laws of evidence.
