ISLAMABAD: For the first time in the judicial history of Pakistan, the Supreme Court (SC) has started hearing of cases via video link with the launch of the new e-court system.
A three-member bench headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khan Khosa and comprising Justice Sardar Tariq Masood and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel formally initiated the proceedings of cases through the e-court system at principal seat Islamabad and Supreme Court Branch Registry in Karachi.
The advocate of Karachi whose cases were fixed for hearing at Supreme Court Branch Registry Karachi argued their cases through video link and the bench at the principal seat in Islamabad heard and decided the cases.
Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, while hearing the first case through e-technology, remarked that a big milestone has been achieved in the judicial history of Pakistan.
The facility will benefit lawyers and litigants to save them time and money, he added.
He also extended his thanks to IT Committee of Supreme Court headed by Justice Mushir Alam, comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, and other stakeholders for their untiring efforts that made this project successful.
Legal experts believe that by enhancing access to SC’s principal seat, the facility will discourage adjournments and encourage the legal fraternity to plead their cases without delays.
It will also facilitate lawyers as they will be able to pursue their cases while remaining in the cities where the court’s branch registries are situated.
It will also benefit the litigants as they will not have to travel all the way to Islamabad to take part in court proceedings.
