Key Takeaways
- The Supreme Court of Pakistan inaugurated the 1818 Legal Call Centre to provide free legal guidance.
- The facility aims to make legal assistance more accessible, especially for those in remote areas or facing financial hardship.
- The call centre will handle queries related to case status, hearing dates, and procedural requirements.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has launched the 1818 Legal Call Centre, a dedicated telephone service designed to provide citizens with free legal guidance and access to court-related information.
The facility was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi, with the first caller, Muhammad Saleem, marking the start of the service.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief justice stated that anyone needing legal advice can dial 1818 to receive free guidance without visiting the court or paying consultation fees.
The initiative is aimed at making legal assistance more accessible, particularly for people facing financial difficulties, living in remote areas, or unfamiliar with court procedures.
The call centre will serve as a contact point for lawyers, litigants, and the public seeking information about Supreme Court services and procedures.
It will handle queries related to case status, hearing dates, cause lists, case fixation, and the relevant offices or service channels through which callers can get further help.
Callers will also be able to seek guidance on filing cases and applications, understanding procedural requirements, removing filing objections, and obtaining certified copies of judgments, orders, and other court documents.
The service will also respond to queries about early hearing applications and procedures for seeking information on pending matters.
Officials said the purpose is to help citizens understand the steps they need to take and guide them to the appropriate office with the required information and documents.
The facility will also guide the Public Facilitation Centre and the Supreme Court’s online services, including the website, online case information, and electronic application facilities.
An expert legal adviser will be available to address litigation-related queries and provide free legal guidance on the nature of legal concerns and the appropriate procedural steps.
For litigants seeking free legal help, the adviser will forward their names and applications to the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan for consideration under the relevant legal aid arrangements.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan, Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, the vice chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, members of the Legal Aid Committee, and a large number of lawyers.
