PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court has undertaken multidimensional reform initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing public confidence and ensuring inexpensive, expeditious, transparent and accessible justice across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Guided by the principles of equality, fairness, accountability, transparency, participation, timeliness and respect, the reform initiatives seek to address systemic challenges within the criminal and civil justice systems while safeguarding constitutional rights and promoting the rule of law, according to a statement issued here on Monday.
The reform package proposes measures to improve procedural efficiency, accountability and transparency within the criminal justice system.
Key initiatives include reforms relating to handling and storage of narcotics case property, establishment of standardised judicial Maalkhana procedures, and use of modern tracking mechanisms, including QR codes and tamper-evident packaging, to preserve the integrity of evidence.
The reforms aim to strengthen independence and effectiveness of investigation and prosecution services while enhancing witness protection mechanisms within the existing legal framework. Collectively, these measures are intended to modernise criminal justice administration, reduce procedural delays and promote a more efficient, transparent and accountable justice system.
Technological integration is a key component of the proposed reforms.
These measures include e-filing, digital case management through Case Flow Management Information System (CFMIS), e-payments and transcription and translation services to enhance judicial efficiency and case management.
Integration with Nadra and other relevant institutions is also proposed to strengthen transparency, accountability and access to justice. Corresponding amendments have been proposed to Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, and Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
In the civil justice sector, reforms are meant to improve decree execution, service of process and court record management through amendments to relevant laws and rules.
Measures have also been proposed to strengthen record management in cases decided by anti-terrorism courts.
To facilitate timely dispute resolution and reduce case backlog, the establishment of court-annexed alternative dispute resolution (ADR) centres has been proposed, enabling the settlement of eligible civil and compoundable criminal matters through accredited ADR practitioners with legally recognised outcomes.
Institutional reforms under consideration include improvements in judicial service matters, recruitment and promotion processes, professional training and performance evaluation systems to strengthen merit-based administration within the judiciary.
A unified ‘judicial service tribunal’ is also envisaged to adjudicate service-related disputes concerning subordinate judiciary and Peshawar High Court staff through an independent forum.
Other reforms focus on strengthening judicial recruitment and promotion mechanisms through specialised pre-promotion training, structured performance-based assessments and measures designed to enhance efficiency, transparency and merit in judicial appointments, consistent with the decisions of National Judicial Policy Making Committee.
The next phase of reforms will advance pending administrative, legislative and institutional initiatives, including strengthened case management systems, judicial service reforms, improved residential facilities, enhanced performance evaluation mechanisms for judicial officers, and measures to ensure continuity in judicial functioning.
Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2026
