According to an official statement, overseas Pakistanis will now be able to approach the facilitation cell through a dedicated WhatsApp number (+92-326-4442444) and the court’s online complaints portal.
The court clarified that only cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court will be registered with the facilitation cell. Every individual residing abroad will be considered an overseas litigant under this initiative. Overseas litigants will be able to submit applications and complaints directly to the apex court. The facility will also allow them to file requests for early hearings in pending cases.
In addition, the court said that case details and certified copies of judgments will be made available online. The entire process will be digitised, with all records preserved electronically to ensure transparency and easy access.
Supreme Court said the establishment of the facilitation cell reflects the judiciary’s resolve to address these concerns. “This initiative reflects the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that access to justice is not hindered by distance and that overseas litigants can effectively pursue their rights before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, ” the statement concluded.
According to Migrant Resource Centre, Pakistan has one of the largest expatriate communities in the world, with over nine million citizens living abroad. The diaspora contributes significantly to the country’s economy through remittances but has long faced difficulties in pursuing legal matters back home due to distance and bureaucratic hurdles.
Earlier,The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has constituted a special bench to hear property-related disputes of overseas Pakistanis under the Overseas Property Act 2024.
The bench is headed by Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro.
The decision, taken to expedite the resolution of such cases, was approved by Acting Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, who also directed the nomination of judges for special courts dedicated to overseas Pakistanis' property disputes.
A notification regarding Justice Soomro's appointment to hear related cases and appeals was issued by the deputy registrar of IHC with the approval of the acting chief justice.
In addition, Justice Dogar has empowered session judges to nominate judges for special courts handling overseas property cases.
According to an official letter, session judges of Islamabad's East and West districts will designate these special courts.
The IHC Registrar, in a letter to the Secretary of Law and Justice, advised that judges for these courts be nominated based on the volume of pending cases and judicial officers' expertise.