ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has opened Pakistan’s first smart, paperless digital court, with Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court Justice Aminuddin Khan formally inaugurating the facility in Courtroom No. 1.
Justice Aamer Farooq of the Federal Constitutional Court accompanied Justice Aminuddin Khan at the ceremony. IHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar, other judges of the high court and guests were also present on the occasion.
The project was completed by the IHC Registrar’s Office. Officials said the system was developed by the high court’s IT department under the supervision of its in-charge, Umar Rasheed Dar, and his team on the directions of the chief justice.
The initiative is aimed at introducing modern technology in the judicial system by moving towards digital case files, electronic document management, reduced use of paper, quicker access to court records and greater transparency in proceedings.
Justice Aminuddin Khan, along with IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, also inaugurated a free public Wi-Fi facility at the high court building. The service has been made available for lawyers and litigants inside the court premises and is also expected to facilitate journalists covering court proceedings.
Earlier, Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar inaugurated a media centre at the high court. Justice Mohammad Azam Khan and Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas were present with him, along with Registrar Mohammad Yar Walana, additional registrars Noor Mohammad Mirza and Rai Mohammad Khan, Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmed Jajja and Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez.
Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Wajid Gilani, Secretary Barrister Qasim Nawaz Abbasi, judicial officers, and office-bearers and members of the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association also attended the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar congratulated the media fraternity and said the media centre had been established to support a free media. He said freedom of expression was the right of everyone, adding that the media was free to criticise or appreciate the court.
He said the centre would provide facilities to journalists covering the high court and help them carry out their professional responsibilities in an effective manner.
At the first sitting of the paperless court, a deputy district public prosecutor of the Federal Criminal Prosecution Service presented arguments on the direction of Federal Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmad.
Lawyers and journalists welcomed the opening of the digital court, the Wi-Fi service and the media centre, describing the steps as positive developments for the justice system and media coverage of court proceedings.
