SC sets up special cell for overseas Pakistanis to pursue cases

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has established a special cell to facilitate overseas Pakistanis in pursuing their cases while residing abroad.

The “Overseas Litigants Facilitation Cell” has been set up at the Supreme Court’s principal seat in Islamabad to save expatriates time and travel expenses and keep them updated about their cases.

The cell will be supervised by the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s Principal Staff Officer and will serve as a dedicated contact centre.

Overseas citizens will be able to contact the cell directly through WhatsApp messages or via an online portal available on the Supreme Court’s official website. The facility will deal exclusively with Supreme Court-related matters and will not cover cases in lower courts.

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Expatriates will be able to digitally submit petitions and complaints, file applications for urgent hearings, obtain certified copies of court orders online, and stay updated on the progress of their cases.

The Supreme Court said a proper digital record of all cases would be maintained, with periodic reports submitted to the Chief Justice.

The Supreme Court said the new facilitation cell would provide a dedicated contact point to assist citizens abroad.

A WhatsApp number “923264442444” has been issued for messaging only, while an online portal has also been activated on the Supreme Court’s website to directly submit cases, petitions, and complaints.

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The cell’s scope includes receiving cases and petitions digitally, assisting in their processing, and handling requests for urgent hearings. Certified copies of court orders and documents will be provided electronically to keep litigants updated.

All pending cases will be digitally recorded, with regular reports submitted to the Chief Justice to ensure monitoring and transparency.

The definition of “Overseas Litigant” for the cell covers any party residing abroad, regardless of their citizenship, provided they are legally entitled to approach the Supreme Court. This ensures the facility is reserved solely for overseas individuals and not local applicants.

In recent years, the government has introduced several initiatives to assist overseas Pakistanis. These include the “Overseas Pakistanis Complaints Portal” under the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis for property disputes and complaints against police and bureaucracy.

Similarly, the federal ombudsperson established a separate desk to expedite action on expatriates’ complaints in government departments, while some provinces set up “Property Dispute Resolution Cells” to address illegal property occupation and documentation issues.

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The Islamabad High Court and the Lahore High Court have also introduced facilities for recording statements through video link, enabling overseas litigants to participate in proceedings without travelling to Pakistan. Special courts were also set up in Islamabad to handle property disputes involving overseas Pakistanis.

The Punjab Overseas Commission has also been regarded as a major initiative, with other provinces working on similar commissions.

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