A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) met with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi on Tuesday, following a request from the Finance Division, according to a press release issued by the Supreme Court (SC). The meeting was part of the IMF’s Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment under Pakistan’s 2024 Extended Fund Facility program.
The Finance Ministry had earlier announced that a three-member IMF mission would visit Pakistan to conduct the assessment, though specific dates were not disclosed. During the meeting, the Chief Justice welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of ongoing efforts to enhance judicial performance.
“The judiciary is not accustomed to direct interaction with such missions, but since the Finance Division requested, this interaction is taking place,” the CJP stated, as quoted in the press release.
Justice Afridi highlighted key constitutional developments, including reforms in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), senior-level judicial appointments, judicial accountability, and the restructuring of the JCP. He emphasized the importance of integrating the judiciary and the parliamentary committee to ensure a more transparent and efficient judicial selection process.
The Chief Justice also informed the delegation about the Supreme Court’s ongoing efforts to finalize a critical agenda for the upcoming National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC) meeting, scheduled for the last week of February. He noted that the agenda is being prepared in consultation with various stakeholders and invited the IMF mission to share any proposals for inclusion.
The IMF delegation, led by Joel Turkewitz, acknowledged the judiciary’s role in maintaining legal and institutional stability and expressed appreciation for the ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening governance and accountability. “The discussion reaffirmed a shared commitment to enhancing judicial efficiency and upholding the rule of law as a cornerstone of economic and social progress,” the SC statement said.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials, including the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the Secretary of the Supreme Judicial Council, the Secretary of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, the Secretary of the Law & Justice Commission of Pakistan, and the Director of the Federal Judicial Academy.
