Islamabad, November 6, 2026: The International Mediation and Arbitration Center (IMAC), Ministry of Law and Justice, successfully concluded its five-day international training programme on the “Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Justice Sector” at the COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad. The programme brought together justice sector officials and professionals from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Türkiye, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Chief Guest Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Judge of the Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan, highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to improve legal research, case management, judicial administration and access to justice. He emphasised that AI can assist judicial processes but cannot replace the reasoning, discretion and independent judgment of judges. He stressed the importance of verification, human oversight and safeguards to address concerns relating to accuracy, bias, confidentiality and data protection.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi noted that the Federal Constitutional Court was exploring AI applications in legal research, case categorisation, identification of relevant precedents and case management, alongside efforts to strengthen the capacity of research officers and administrative staff. He underscored that the objective of adopting AI must be to make justice delivery more efficient, reliable and accessible without compromising judicial principles.

Speaking on the occasion, Raja Naeem Akbar (Hilal-i-Imtiaz), Federal Secretary, Ministry of Law and Justice, highlighted the potential of AI in court management, caseload management, legal research and access to justice. He emphasised that its responsible use must remain consistent with constitutional guarantees of fair trial, due process, human dignity and privacy. He reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to institutional capacity building and legal sector reforms.

Ms. Aisha Rasool, Project Director, IMAC, thanked the Chief Guest for his encouragement, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan and representatives of the embassies of China and Türkiye for attending the ceremony, and the resource persons and participants for their contributions. She emphasised that human judgment, accountability and the rights of every litigant must remain at the heart of justice systems.

Over five days, participants examined the technological potential of AI alongside its legal, ethical and institutional implications for the justice sector. Sessions covered AI fundamentals and global judicial trends, ethics, bias and human oversight, data protection and cybersecurity, court administration, judgment writing and AI procurement. The programme also included an educational excursion.

Representatives of participating countries appreciated the Ministry of Law and Justice and IMAC for organising the programme, highlighting its contribution to professional knowledge, international networking and cooperation among justice institutions.

The initiative reflects Pakistan's commitment to the rule of law, access to justice and the responsible, human-centred use of technology in judicial systems.