A Blueprint for a Modern Judicial System in Pakistan
It was 4:30 PM on a Tuesday afternoon, the hour when courtrooms across Pakistan fall silent, doors shut, and hope is deferred to another “tareekh.” For most citizens, it marks the end of access to justice for the day but in Abbottabad, on one such afternoon, something extraordinary happened. A family walked into the court on the verge of collapse. A Family conflict had pushed them to the brink, emotionally exhausted their home fracturing under pressure. In most districts, they would have been turned away by locked gates and procedural routine, told to return weeks later. And in those weeks, the damage might have become irreversible. But this time, the lights were still on. A judge was present. The system was listening. And before the evening ended a home was saved from splintering, not through a cold decree, but because the machinery of justice was finally there when they needed it most. This is not a fiction but a quiet & powerful reality of a reform that is reshaping justice in Pakistan:
The first ever Double Docket Court (DDC) of Pakistan at Abbottabad. Envisioned by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Yahya Afridi, and formally inaugurated on October 15, 2025, by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, Mr. Justice S. M. Attique Shah, the initiative found its true strength on the ground in Abbottabad. The District & Sessions Judge, Abbottabad, through unwavering commitment, hands on leadership and vigilant oversight, translated an ambitious vision into a living, breathing reality by ensuring that what started as a pilot project did not remain a mere concept, but evolved into a dynamic and fully functional system for accessible justice. For decades, Pakistan’s district courts have operated within rigid routine of morning hours, leaving countless urgent disputes, particularly family and social matters trapped in delay. The DDC breaks that mold by introducing an evening shift from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, specifically dedicated to cases that demand sensitivity and speed: family disputes, rent matters, and cases involving women and juveniles. This is not merely an administrative tweak. It is a shift in philosophy from a system built around convenience to one built around compassion. Doubters always question whether such initiatives can deliver real results, but Abbottabad has answered them decisively. In just four months since its inception the DDC disposed of 418 cases. Remarkably, 129 of these were resolved during the evening shift alone. That means nearly 33% of the total workload was cleared after traditional court hours. These are not just numbers, but represent resolved disputes, restored relationships, and lives brought back from uncertainty. By simply extending working hours, the system has multiplied its effectiveness without adding new infrastructure. Of course, change is never without obstacles. In Abbottabad, the harsh winter evenings posed genuine difficulties for litigants traveling from remote areas. Yet, rather than retreating, the judiciary adapted, working closely with the district bar to ensure flexibility and ease. This willingness to listen and evolve is precisely what has made the initiative succeed. What makes the Double Docket Court truly transformative is its focus. By prioritizing cases that affect the social fabric (families, tenants, vulnerable individuals) it has moved from clearing backlogs to healing communities. Double Docket Court, Abbottabad has shown that reform does not always require sweeping overhauls or massive budgets. Sometimes, it begins with a simple decision: to keep the doors open a little longer. The question now is no longer whether this model works. The question is how long will the rest of Pakistan continue to close its doors at 2:30 PM, while justice waits outside?