ISLAMABAD, April 11 (Alliance News): The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a landmark 18-page verdict on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the judicial system, recommending the creation of formal guidelines to regulate its application.
Authored by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, the judgment emphasizes that AI should only serve as a support tool, not a replacement for human judges.
The court observed that AI tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek can enhance judicial efficiency but cannot replace the human elements of reasoning, empathy, and discretion essential to delivering justice.
The ruling calls on the National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan to draft clear and comprehensive guidelines that ensure AI is used in a supportive capacity only.
“These [guidelines] must delineate clear boundaries, ensuring that AI is used only as a facilitative tool and never in a manner that compromises human judicial autonomy, constitutional fidelity, or public trust in the justice system,” the judgment stated.
Referring to international practices, the court acknowledged that judges in Colombia, the United States, and Pakistan have used AI tools under strict supervision for legal research and draft writing. It noted Pakistan’s Federal Judicial Academy’s recent initiative “Judge-GPT,” which assists around 1,500 district judges in case research and drafting.
However, the court warned against over-reliance on AI, cautioning against “automation bias” and AI “hallucinations” — where AI may produce inaccurate or fabricated content. The verdict stressed that AI outputs must always be verified by judges and must not be seen as conclusive.
“A courtroom is not a site for algorithmic governance but a space for reasoned, principled deliberation,” the verdict declared. Delegating core judicial functions to AI, it said, would amount to misconduct and a violation of due process.
While AI can aid in administrative tasks like case allocation and reducing delays, the court concluded that the heart of justice must always remain in human hands.
