Pakistan’s first smart and paperless digital courtroom has been formally inaugurated at the Islamabad High Court (IHC), marking a move towards greater use of technology in judicial proceedings.
Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court Aminuddin Khan inaugurated the facility at the IHC in the presence of Justice Aamer Farooq. Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar, other judges and invited guests also attended the ceremony.
The digital courtroom has been set up in Courtroom No. 1. The project was completed by the IHC Registrar’s Office, with the court’s IT department developing the system under the direction of Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar.
Officials said the initiative is aimed at modernising court operations and improving the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of judicial proceedings while reducing reliance on physical documents.
Following the inauguration of the digital courtroom, Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan and IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar jointly inaugurated a free Wi-Fi service at the high court.
The facility will allow lawyers, litigants and journalists to access internet services while at the court premises. Officials said the service is expected to make it easier for visitors and media professionals to carry out their work during court proceedings.
Earlier, Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar opened a dedicated media centre at the high court.
Justice Mohammad Azam Khan, Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas, IHC Registrar Mohammad Yar Walana, additional registrars Noor Mohammad Mirza and Rai Mohammad Khan, Prosecutor General Manzoor Ahmed Jajja and Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez attended the ceremony.
Representatives of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association and the Islamabad High Court Journalists Association were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar congratulated members of the media and said the new centre had been established to facilitate journalists covering proceedings at the high court.
He stressed the importance of freedom of expression and said the media had the right to criticise or appreciate the court.
According to the chief justice, the media centre would provide journalists with better facilities and enable them to perform their professional responsibilities more effectively.
Lawyers and journalists welcomed the launch of the digital court, free Wi-Fi service and media centre, describing the initiatives as steps towards a more technology-driven and accessible judicial system.
