The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, currently conducting a Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment (GCDA) in Pakistan, held a meeting with the chief justice of Pakistan at the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, CJP Yahya Afridi confirmed that he had received a letter from PTI founder Imran Khan and another from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to sources, the six-member delegation discussed various matters, including judicial reforms, and received insights from the Chief Justice regarding efforts to improve the judicial system in the country.

Following the meeting, Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, spoke informally to the media, revealing that the IMF delegation had been briefed on judicial reforms and the National Judicial Policy. He remarked that the timing of the IMF’s visit was ideal and assured the delegation that efforts were underway to make necessary changes.

Justice Afridi informed the press that the IMF delegation had proposed recommendations for the protection of property rights. He also mentioned that he had discussed the National Judicial Policy Making Committee’s agenda with the delegation, emphasizing the judiciary’s constitutional role and the oversight of subordinate courts by high courts.

Justice Afridi, however, said he told the delegation that he was not going to divulge all of the details on judiciary as he had taken oath of independence of judiciary.

The Chief Justice revealed that the IMF delegation was keen to understand the enforcement of contracts and property rights. In response, Justice Afridi assured them that reforms were being implemented in these areas.

Letters from Imran Khan and PM Shehbaz

Additionally, the Chief Justice mentioned that he had received a letter from the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, which he had acknowledged through the Attorney General. He emphasized the importance of engaging both the government and opposition on judicial reforms and stated that expectations should not be set too high for immediate resolutions.

Regarding a letter from the founding member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Justice Afridi confirmed having received it and said that the contents were serious and that the matter of Article 184(3) had been sent to the SC committee on formation of constitutional benches.

The letter, along with other materials, would be examined by the Constitutional Bench Committee, said. He said he had decided to send Imran Khan’s letter to the committee on Monday.

Judges seniority and letters

Justice Afridi also commented on the changing dynamics of writing letters, stating that the system would gradually improve and become more efficient.

The chief jJustice added that judges who had written letters should have waited, emphasizing the need to resolve issues in a constructive manner. He noted that the Judicial Commission had discussed seniority issues during their recent meeting. Justice Afridi expressed his support for the appointment of Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb, an expert in tax cases, to the Supreme Court. His name will be reconsidered in the next Judicial Commission meeting, he said.

In terms of judicial workload, Justice Afridi shared that two permanent benches would be established from next week to handle criminal cases, including death penalty cases, with priority given to expeditious hearings. He also noted that following his oath on October 26, he had invited high court judges to his residence and would continue to take necessary actions within his jurisdiction.

When asked by a reporter about the role of the establishment in court appointments, the chief justice replied, “You saw that for yourself yesterday.”

Justice Afridi emphasized the importance of allowing the judicial system to function smoothly, stating that judges should focus on the efficient operation of the system rather than obstructing it.

He reiterated his support for appointing Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb to the Supreme Court and expressed concern over judges who were no longer hearing corporate cases.

What IMF delegation is doing in Pakistan

Earlier on Monday, the IMF delegation reviewed key government institutions, including the Federal Land Commission, the Financial Monitoring Unit, the National Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Authority (AML/CFT), and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) visiting government offices.

During this visit, the delegation was briefed on the measures taken to combat corruption and prevent financial crimes, as well as efforts to curb money laundering and suspicious financial transactions.

The IMF delegation raised concerns about corruption within the government and stressed the importance of digitizing land records. The delegation was also briefed on effective measures to prevent the financing of terrorism.