Digital Courts in Pakistan: Can Technology Bridge the Access to Justice Gap?
The paper discusses the opportunities offered by the digital courts in Pakistan to overcome the access-to-justice gap that is very high in Pakistan, marked by long delays, high costs, and complexities in the processes. A mixed-methods study, the research analyzes administrative data, litigants and lawyers surveys, as well as interviews with judges and court employees. The results show that online cause lists, case tracking, and e-notices are used to provide digital services that help ease the travel and cost burden of the users, especially in urban centers. Nevertheless, the rural and low-income users encounter obstacles that concern connectivity, digital literacy, and assistance. The paper has concluded that although digital courts have the potential of enhancing access to justice in Pakistan, the effectiveness of this transformation will rely on improved infrastructure, facilitation access to the disadvantaged users, and provision of procedural guidelines that will emphasize fairness and transparency.
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Digital Courts; Access to Justice; Pakistan Judiciary; E-Justice; Digital Divide; Procedural Fairness; Court Reform
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(1) Kamran Abdullah
Lecturer, Department of shariah and law, Islamia college Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
Cite this article
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APA : Abdullah, K. (2021). Digital Courts in Pakistan: Can Technology Bridge the Access to Justice Gap?. Global Legal Studies Review, VI(II), 145-155. https://doi.org/10.31703/glsr.2021(VI-II).18
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CHICAGO : Abdullah, Kamran. 2021. "Digital Courts in Pakistan: Can Technology Bridge the Access to Justice Gap?." Global Legal Studies Review, VI (II): 145-155 doi: 10.31703/glsr.2021(VI-II).18
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HARVARD : ABDULLAH, K. 2021. Digital Courts in Pakistan: Can Technology Bridge the Access to Justice Gap?. Global Legal Studies Review, VI, 145-155.
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MHRA : Abdullah, Kamran. 2021. "Digital Courts in Pakistan: Can Technology Bridge the Access to Justice Gap?." Global Legal Studies Review, VI: 145-155
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MLA : Abdullah, Kamran. "Digital Courts in Pakistan: Can Technology Bridge the Access to Justice Gap?." Global Legal Studies Review, VI.II (2021): 145-155 Print.
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OXFORD : Abdullah, Kamran (2021), "Digital Courts in Pakistan: Can Technology Bridge the Access to Justice Gap?", Global Legal Studies Review, VI (II), 145-155
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TURABIAN : Abdullah, Kamran. "Digital Courts in Pakistan: Can Technology Bridge the Access to Justice Gap?." Global Legal Studies Review VI, no. II (2021): 145-155. https://doi.org/10.31703/glsr.2021(VI-II).18
