ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has established a Legal Aid Cell at its Public Facilitation Centre (PFC) to assist deserving litigants seeking guidance on pursuing or defending their legal rights.
The new facility is intended to make access to justice easier by helping eligible individuals identify and obtain appropriate legal assistance.
According to Shumaila Naz of the Judicial Reforms Initiative, a dedicated legal assistant has been appointed at the Legal Aid Cell to guide people towards the assistance available to them.
One-Window Facility for Litigants
Naz said the Legal Aid Cell would complement the administrative and facilitation services already being provided through the PFC.
The centre operates as a one-window facility for litigants and visitors to the Supreme Court, allowing them to seek assistance at a single point rather than approaching different branches of the court separately.
The PFC coordinates internally with relevant court branches to help citizens access the services they require.
The approach is intended to reduce confusion for people who may not know which branch is responsible for a particular matter or where they need to submit a request.
Nearly 20 Court Services Available Online
The Legal Aid Cell is also part of the Supreme Court’s wider effort to expand technology-based public services.
Naz said nearly 20 services are currently available online through the PFC portal on the Supreme Court’s website, allowing citizens to access various facilities without having to visit the court premises.
The digital services are designed to make routine interactions with the court more convenient and reduce the need for physical visits.
NCCIA Challenges Supreme Court Deadline in Imaan Mazari, Hadi Chattha Sentence Suspension Case
1818 Helpline Provides Public Assistance
The Supreme Court has also introduced the 1818 helpline, through which members of the public can obtain information about their cases, receive assistance with online services and raise administrative queries.
The Legal Aid Cell will provide an additional channel for people who require legal assistance within the same facilitation framework.
Naz said the objective was not simply to help people enter a courtroom but also to ensure they could understand procedures, identify the relevant offices and obtain information about their cases without unnecessary difficulty.
Focus on Citizen-Centred Justice
Naz described the PFC, its online portal, the 1818 helpline and the new Legal Aid Cell as interconnected initiatives aimed at making the Supreme Court more accessible and responsive to litigants.
“The idea is to ensure that a citizen does not have to know which branch to approach, whom to contact, or where to go merely to obtain an answer,” she said.
She said the broader objective was to organise administrative, technological and legal assistance around citizens’ needs rather than requiring litigants to navigate the court system on their own.
The establishment of the Legal Aid Cell adds a legal assistance component to the Supreme Court’s existing facilitation system, providing another avenue for deserving citizens seeking help with their legal matters.
