Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has clarified that judges do not need prior approval to take leave during court vacations, though they must inform the authorities before taking leave outside of public holidays. Speaking at a Judicial Conference, the Chief Justice also stated that there are no restrictions on judges traveling during vacations. He added that a system has been established to regulate leave during court working days.
Dispelling a common misconception, he explained that judges do not take a continuous three-month vacation. Instead, they take one month of leave within the three-month vacation period and work at the registry for the remaining time.
Regarding security, the Chief Justice mentioned that judges do not require excessive protocol inside the Red Zone. Additional security will be provided only outside the Red Zone or in cases of a credible threat. He noted that he has reduced his own security from nine vehicles to two, as both his residence and the court are located within the Red Zone.
Highlighting the changes since he took office, CJ Afridi stated that his top priority is the rule of law, and he has initiated reforms based on five core principles. These include digital case filing, e-services, free legal aid for those who cannot afford it, and measures for transparency such as internal audits.
He also stressed the need to integrate artificial intelligence into the justice system but acknowledged that the judiciary is not yet fully prepared for its immediate implementation.
The Chief Justice said that priority is being given to the swift resolution of cases through technology. He added that requests for early hearings will no longer be ignored, and cases will be heard in the order they were filed, not by selecting them from the bottom of the list.
