The Supreme Court has underlined the need for artificial intelligence (AI) to cut delays in Pakistan’s courts, warning that prolonged hearings often turn into a denial of justice.
The judges stressed that quick justice is not just an administrative matter but a constitutional right that protects public trust in the judiciary.
In a written verdict on a 2011 auction case, Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Ayesha Malik criticized the decade-long delay. The case remained in the Peshawar High Court for 10 years and then moved to the Supreme Court in 2022, where it still awaited a hearing.
The bench observed that long delays weaken the justice system, discourage investment, and most of all, hurt the poor and marginalized who cannot bear lengthy legal expenses.
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The court highlighted that over 2.2 million cases are pending across the country, including nearly 56,000 in the Supreme Court alone. It urged the adoption of modern tools and AI-driven case management systems to make proceedings faster, more transparent, and accountable.
The judgement also dismissed the 14-year-old auction petition because the petitioner or their representative failed to follow up. The court noted that such delays often make justice meaningless, saying: “Delay in justice is not merely denial of justice; in many cases, it amounts to the end of justice.”
