PESHAWAR: Acting Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, Justice S.M. Atiq Shah, delivered an impactful address during the oath-taking ceremony of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association, outlining a series of reforms and initiatives aimed at improving the judicial system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Justice Atiq Shah expressed his gratitude to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for attending the event, noting the significance of the Chief Justice’s return to his professional roots, as he began his legal career at the Peshawar High Court. The Acting Chief Justice credited the progress in the Peshawar High Court to the close cooperation between the Bench and the Bar. He emphasised that the judiciary’s achievements would not have been possible without the Bar Association’s continued support.
Justice Shah highlighted that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy is now offering legal training not only within the province but also in Balochistan. He revealed that the provincial government has allocated over Rs. 6 billion for the academy, and a new state-of-the-art campus will be constructed on 150 kanals in Regi Lalma, with construction set to begin within the current fiscal year under PC-1.
In a major environmental and infrastructural move, he announced that the Pakistan Law Commission, on the directives of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, will provide funds to solarise all judicial complexes across the province, aiming for energy efficiency and sustainability.
Justice Atiq Shah expressed concern over the 226,000 pending cases in district courts and assured that practical measures are being taken to address the backlog. He announced the formation of special committees tasked with accelerating case resolutions and praised the former Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim for initiating special courts to expedite inheritance cases.
Calling lawyers, the “voice of the poor,” Justice Shah urged the legal community to adapt to the demands of the modern era and uphold the rule of law. He stressed the importance of cooperation between the Bench and the Bar to ensure timely and fair justice.
Justice Shah reiterated the judiciary’s commitment to timely justice delivery and announced that lawyers from across the province will receive training through the Judicial Academy to enhance their professional skills.
The acting Chief Justice concluded his address by calling on both the Bench and Bar to unite in their efforts, asserting that a shared commitment to justice can eliminate long-standing case delays and restore public confidence in the legal system.
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