Let's Take a Stroll: International Edition (English)

Let's Take a Stroll: International Edition (English)

April 15, 2025

Pakistan, April 12 — In April 2025, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a decision that could shape the legal landscape of this era. The historic verdict, penned by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and supported by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, mandated robust, constitutional, and strictly defined regulations for the implementation of Artificial Intelligence within Pakistan’s judiciary.

It transcended a mere legal statement—it was an open call. A call to innovate with responsibility. To reform without sacrificing ethics. And to update the judicial system while maintaining the essence of justice.

As someone who has spent the last several years at the frontier of legal AI in Pakistan-building tools, training systems, educating the profession, and writing frameworks-this judgment felt personal. Not just because it validated much of the work my colleagues and I have done, but because it recognizes that the judicial crisis of delay and inefficiency is real, and that technology-especially AI-is now part of the solution.

I've consistently held the view that Pakistan should not regard AI as merely a curiosity. Given the judiciary’s backlog of millions of pending cases where individuals often await resolution for years—or even decades—the constitutional guarantees outlined in Articles 10A (right to fair trial) and 37(d) (speedy and inexpensive justice) start to seem unrealistic. Recently, the Supreme Court correctly stated that such delays constitute a breach of the constitution—and that AI, when appropriately regulated, could address this issue effectively.

However, let’s make one thing crystal clear: this does not endorse techno-optimism. The Court established a principled limit: artificial intelligence should aid judges rather than supplant them. AI can help with legal research, improve drafts of rulings, facilitate administrative duties, and increase transparency—but the ultimate ethical, interpretative, and constitutional duty rests solely with the human judge.

That is the sole valid framework. It has taken me years to construct it.

In 2023, my publication "ChatGPT for Lawyers" became an instant bestseller on Amazon, which was truly gratifying. This book provides the initial comprehensive and pragmatic approach to help legal practitioners incorporate generative AI into their processes with ethical considerations. My aim wasn’t theoretical but grounded in real-world experience from both practicing law and engaging with technology. The motivation stemmed from a concern of falling behind coupled with the belief that our profession had the potential to steer this change effectively.

Shortly thereafter, alongside some remarkable individuals I had the pleasure of meeting, we jointly developed YourMunshi—a legal AI assistant tailored exclusively for Pakistani laws, judicial terminology, and procedural reasoning. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, this tool was crafted specifically for our jurisdiction’s court systems and attorneys. Additionally, it included safeguards such as mandatory human oversight for all outputs, trackable citations, and no conclusion would be considered definitive without thorough verification.

To make sure that lawyers and judges stayed up-to-date, we organized nationwide events across Pakistan from 2024, starting from Islamabad all the way to Karachi and further regions. These sessions included interactive demonstrations of YourMunshi along with practical applications of artificial intelligence. We provided hands-on training and welcomed participation from district judges, court personnel, bar associations, and law students to illustrate how AI could enhance rather than diminish their work. The outcomes were evident: there was significant interest; the infrastructure is prepared. Now what’s needed most is strong leadership. This Supreme Court ruling delivers exactly this guidance. It accurately recognizes the potential benefits: AI-driven legal research platforms such as Westlaw, Casetext, Judge-GPT, and ChatGPT have the power to transform how courts manage caseloads. Tools for drafting documents like BriefCatch and WordRake can improve both the quality and professional standards of judicial writings. Additionally, case distribution algorithms—already implemented in countries including China, Kazakhstan, and various European Union member states—can minimize personal biases, prevent forum shopping, and rebuild public confidence.

However, the court recognizes the risks involved as well. It cautions about “automation bias,” wherein human supervision diminishes when faced with recommendations from artificial intelligence systems. The court also points out “hallucinations”—these are false references or inaccurate analyses produced by AI. Furthermore, it emphasizes that AI does not possess the necessary empathy, discernment, or ethical fortitude needed for genuine judgment processes. Most importantly, it unequivocally states that delegating essential judicial duties to automated tools would not just be inappropriate—it constitutes an act of professional misconduct within the judiciary.

To put it differently, AI should act as the clerk, not the moral compass of the court.

The court has instructed the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee along with the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan to develop thorough guidelines. This constitutes a significant move; however, it should not be considered merely an administrative task. It requires an all-encompassing, technically informed, and constitutionally conscious consultative procedure—one that encompasses participation from judges, legal tech experts, ethics specialists for artificial intelligence, members of bar associations, and representatives from civil society organizations.

Here, we also need to focus externally. The EU AI Act appropriately categorizes judicial artificial intelligence systems as “high-risk.” This legislation requires human supervision, transparency, clarity, and equity. It bans entirely automated legal decisions and asserts that irrespective of their precision, no AI tools can supplant human judgement. Pakistan ought to take significant cues from this regulatory framework. Our legal heritage holds equal importance compared to Europe’s. In fact, due to our procedural weaknesses, stricter protections might be necessary.

And still—this is also an opportunity for us to take the lead.

In contrast to older jurisdictions weighed down by outdated systems, Pakistan has the opportunity to advance rapidly. We have already implemented Judge-GPT in our district courts and tested various localized solutions. Our constitution clearly pledges efficiency and justice. By acting swiftly—if we establish a structure that supports judges, safeguards rights, and incorporates technology openly—we could set an example for ethical legal AI usage across the region.

As a Technology Lawyer, my professional engagements have connected me with specialists from the UK, the US, and the KSA. Globally, there’s an urgent need to understand how new democracies navigate this critical juncture. The international community is closely observing our ability to foster innovation while maintaining judicial autonomy.

Allow us to demonstrate that we can.

Justice Shah’s remarks strike a chord: “The courtroom should not serve as an arena for algorithmic governance but rather as a forum for thoughtful and ethical debate.” However, we might further suggest that courtrooms have the potential to become hubs of principled innovation—provided they are guided by bravery and compassion.

This endeavor is not technological; it is constitutional in nature. With humility, I present both myself and my team—along with our tools and personal experiences—to contribute to the nationwide initiative that lies ahead. The phase of drafting position papers has concluded. We must now shift our focus to active policy creation.

Allow this verdict to mark a commencement rather than a conclusion.

Let this not be an exception, but rather the norm.

Let it not stay merely on paper but instead become embedded in policies, training programs, and daily practices.

The individual is a tech-savvy attorney who has authored an internationally bestselling book on Amazon. They also developed Pakistan’s inaugural AI-based legal aid tool called YourMunshi and currently holds the position of President at the International AI & Law Forum.

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