ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief Justice Yahya Afridi has established a cell to facilitate overseas litigants, state-run media reported this week, saying it would serve as a point of contact for litigants abroad. 

The state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said the term “overseas litigants” includes any litigant residing abroad, regardless of nationality, who has a right to approach Pakistan’s Supreme Court. 

It said the Overseas Litigants Facilitation Cell (OLFC) is located at the Principal Seat of the Supreme Court and will be managed by the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the chief justice. 

“Recognizing the difficulties faced by overseas litigants in securing timely and convenient access to justice, the Chief Justice of Pakistan has taken notice of the matter and has established the Overseas Litigants Facilitation Cell (OLFC) with immediate effect,” APP reported on Saturday. 

The report said that the OLFC can be reached through a dedicated WhatsApp number (+92 326 4442444) on which one can only send messages, and via an online portal available on the Supreme Court’s official website. 

“The facility is intended solely for matters pertaining to the Supreme Court and does not extend to cases falling under the exclusive jurisdiction of other courts,” APP clarified. 

FUNCTIONS

The report said the OLF shall facilitate the submission of petitions, applications, and grievances through digital means. It shall also facilitate the processing of requests for early hearing before the Supreme Court and will also provide case updates and facilitate the provision of certified copies of orders electronically.

The OLFC will also maintain a digital record of all matters processed, with outcomes, and submit periodic reports to the chief justice, APP said. 

“This initiative reflects the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that access to justice is not hindered by distance and that overseas litigants can effectively pursue their rights before the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” the report said.