Justice Yahya Afridi Stresses Institutional Cooperation and Equal Access to Justice
Free Legal Aid for Poor Litigants Across Pakistan
QUETTA: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi has ordered the provision of free legal aid for poor litigants, reaffirming his commitment to ensuring free legal aid for poor citizens who are denied justice due to financial hardship. Chairing a high-level meeting at the Supreme Court Quetta Registry on Monday, the CJP announced that free legal aid for poor people will now be provided at all judicial levels, including the Supreme Court. Under this initiative, qualified lawyers will be paid up to Rs50,000 by the state to represent indigent litigants, further institutionalizing free legal aid for poor litigants in Pakistan’s justice system.
Justice Yahya Afridi highlighted that free legal aid for poor communities is a fundamental step toward bridging the justice gap in underserved and backward districts. The CJP directed bar councils across the country to nominate competent lawyers for this programme and ensure that free legal aid for poor individuals becomes a practical reality, not just a policy promise.
Judicial Reforms and Institutional Strengthening in Backward Districts
During the meeting—attended by representatives from the Balochistan High Court, Pakistan Bar Council, and Supreme Court Bar Association—Justice Afridi stressed the need for institutional cooperation to implement judicial reforms in backward and remote areas. He noted that the lack of infrastructure in backward districts is a major barrier to delivering justice and called for coordinated action to support free legal aid for poor litigants in these neglected regions.
Justice Afridi also announced the appointment of Law and Justice Commission representatives in all provinces. These officials will oversee development projects in district bar associations and ensure that free legal aid for poor communities is effectively implemented at the grassroots level. The meeting also urged bar associations to expand training efforts by promoting participation in programmes offered by the Federal Judicial Academy.
“This is a shared responsibility,” said the CJP. “We must work collectively to strengthen access to justice and ensure free legal aid for poor litigants reaches every corner of Pakistan, especially backward districts that have long been neglected.”
The next high-level judicial reform meeting will be held in Karachi, where further steps will be taken to expand the reach of free legal aid for poor litigants and improve the legal infrastructure in backward districts. The Chief Justice reiterated his vision of a justice system that is inclusive, transparent, and accessible to all—regardless of socioeconomic status.
