While the world makes rapid technological advancements, chaos reigns supreme in Pakistan's technologically antiquated legal system. Here, often, the aggrieved die before justice can be served. Picture courtrooms overflowing with towering stacks of files, where crucial case documents risk being lost in endless record rooms. The bureaucratic red tape slows proceedings to a crawl while clerks manipulate the archaic system for personal gain. Lawyers are burdened with chaotic case management, and litigants, forced to travel across cities, often arrive only to find the judge absent or the courts shut due to a lawyers' strike. As the system drags cases, justice becomes a distant dream, outliving those it was meant to serve. This perpetuates the idea of social injustice and lack of public confidence in the judicial system while encouraging confidence in the perception that those with the means can 'get away' with murder.
Pakistan's judicial system is ranked 130 out of 139 in terms of efficiency, transparency and fairness. One potential solution to this problem could be artificial intelligence (AI). AI can cut through at least some of this inefficiency, restoring speed, accountability, and fairness to the heart of the justice system.
According to the Law Commission's report from 2023, Pakistan's courts are burdened with some 2.26 million cases, leading to crippling delays, a financial burden on litigants, and a severe erosion of public trust. However, modern AI models offer a transformative solution to this problem of case pendency. Currently, in Pakistan's higher courts, the initial processing of writs or appeals is conducted manually by either clerics, judicial assistants, or the registrar's team - inefficient and labour-intensive processes which leave urgent matters languishing.
The initial case assessment process could be significantly optimised by integrating advanced machine learning algorithms (deterministic and probabilistic) and natural language processing capabilities coupled with neural networks (NN). One practical example is the Brazilian Supreme Court's Victor AI system, which has proven effective in identifying 'general repercussions' in pending cases, enhancing processing times by leveraging advanced large language models (LLMs) to increase efficiency, transparency, and accuracy. Akin to China's "Smart Court" system, AI could automate routine tasks such as case filing, scheduling, and document analysis, freeing human judges to focus on complex legal matters requiring human reasoning and 'adjudication'. Predictive analytics could help anticipate case outcomes based on historical data, expediting decision-making and reducing case backlogs. AI-powered virtual legal assistants and chatbots could democratise access to legal resources, allowing citizens to file cases and track progress effectively - at least for basic cases without having to rely on expensive attorneys. Blockchain technology could secure case records, ensuring security, transparency, and trust.
In the Pakistani context, an AI-powered system could help automate the preliminary analysis of writs and appeals, enabling faster case handling and improving judicial performance. Implementing such intelligent systems would not only expedite case processing but also restore public confidence in the judiciary by reducing delays and ensuring more efficient justice delivery.
By embracing AI integration, Pakistan can not merely modernise its judicial system but also set a bold precedent for innovation in governance, ensuring a more equitable and efficient legal framework for all its citizens
Through innovative AI tools, legal processes can be democratised, thereby increasing the efficiency of the justice system and access to justice itself.
Another example is the COMPAS (correctional offender management profiling for alternative sanctions) AI model used in the US judicial system. By automating risk assessments for criminal defendants, COMPAS helps judges make informed decisions on bail, sentencing, and parole. In Pakistan, where court backlogs and inefficiencies lead to delayed justice, an AI model like COMPAS could analyse key data—such as criminal history, socio-economic background, and behavioural patterns—to predict the likelihood of reoffending or flight risk. This enables judges to make faster and more consistent decisions without manually reviewing each case in-depth. Crucially, adapting COMPAS to Pakistan's legal, cultural, and societal contexts could help address long-standing issues of bias and inconsistency in the criminal justice process. By leveraging AI, the system could move towards more equitable, efficient, and transparent outcomes.
For Pakistan's judiciary, integrating an AI model like COMPAS would provide critical support in criminal decision-making. Judges could rely on data-driven risk scores to assess whether a defendant poses a significant threat to society or is likely to comply with court requirements. For instance, in bail hearings, where human discretion can be swayed by external pressures or incomplete information, COMPAS could offer an objective risk profile, helping reduce arbitrary or inconsistent decisions. During sentencing, judges could use AI assessments to weigh the potential for rehabilitation versus the need for stricter punitive measures, making rulings more aligned with the individual's likelihood of reoffending. Importantly, AI would not replace human judgment but serve as a powerful tool to enhance judicial efficiency and fairness, cutting down delays and ensuring justice is both swift and balanced.
However, integrating AI into Pakistan's judicial system presents challenges such as data privacy concerns, potential biases, and also the need for substantial investment. Nevertheless, the transformative potential of AI is undeniable. Unfortunately, the reality on the ground suggests otherwise; Pakistan still needs to digitise its judicial systems before it considers harnessing the power of AI.
To break free from this stagnation, Pakistan must adopt a leapfrogging approach akin to the strategies employed by many African nations that bypassed landline infrastructure in favour of mobile technology. By embracing AI integration, Pakistan can not merely modernise its judicial system but also set a bold precedent for innovation in governance, ensuring a more equitable and efficient legal framework for all its citizens. The time for this transformative leap is now.