Introduction
Pakistan’s judicial system is structured across three main tiers: the Supreme Court, the High Courts of each province (and region), and the District Courts operating at the local level.
Each tier performs vital constitutional, appellate, and trial functions ensuring access to justice across the country.
This article provides an overview of the court hierarchy and key contact information for the Supreme Court, provincial High Courts, and District Courts of Pakistan.
1. Supreme Court of Pakistan
The Supreme Court of Pakistan is the highest judicial authority in the country. It is the final court of appeal and the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution.
| Court | Location | Phone / Email | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supreme Court of Pakistan | Constitution Avenue, Islamabad | +92-51-9220581-89 | supremecourt.gov.pk |
Main Functions:
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Final appellate jurisdiction over all High Courts and tribunals.
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Constitutional interpretation under Articles 184(3) and 187.
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Original jurisdiction in disputes between governments.
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Supervisory and advisory powers over lower courts.
2. High Courts of Pakistan
Each province and region of Pakistan has its own High Court, exercising appellate and original jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases from district and special courts.
| High Court | Location | Phone | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lahore High Court | The Mall, Lahore, Punjab | +92-42-99212869 | info@lhc.gov.pk | lhc.gov.pk |
| Sindh High Court | Saddar, Karachi, Sindh | +92-21-99203151 | info@shc.gov.pk | shc.gov.pk |
| Peshawar High Court | Khyber Road, Peshawar, KP | +92-91-9210286 | info@peshawarhighcourt.gov.pk | peshawarhighcourt.gov.pk |
| Balochistan High Court | Zarghoon Road, Quetta | +92-81-9201733 | info@bhc.gov.pk | bhc.gov.pk |
| Islamabad High Court | G-10/1, Islamabad | +92-51-9100000 | info@ihc.gov.pk | ihc.gov.pk |
| Azad Jammu & Kashmir High Court | Muzaffarabad | +92-5822-920288 | info@ajkhighcourt.gok.pk | ajkhighcourt.gok.pk |
| Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court | Jutial, Gilgit | +92-5811-920480 | info@gbcc.gov.pk | gbcc.gov.pk |
Functions:
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Appellate jurisdiction over civil and criminal decisions from district courts.
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Writ jurisdiction under Articles 199 and 200 of the Constitution.
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Administrative control over subordinate judiciary within the province.
3. District Courts in Pakistan
District Courts form the foundation of the judicial system. They handle most civil and criminal trials at the grassroots level. Every district in Pakistan has both District & Sessions Courts and Civil Courts, supervised by the respective High Court.
| Province / Region | Example District Courts | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Sheikhupura | districtcourts.punjab.gov.pk |
| Sindh | Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Thatta | sindhhighcourt.gov.pk/districts.php |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Peshawar, Swat, Mardan, Abbottabad, D.I. Khan | peshawarhighcourt.gov.pk/districts |
| Balochistan | Quetta, Khuzdar, Sibi, Gwadar, Turbat | bhc.gov.pk/districts.php |
| Islamabad Capital Territory | Islamabad District Courts | districtcourtsislamabad.gov.pk |
| Azad Jammu & Kashmir | Mirpur, Kotli, Muzaffarabad | ajkhighcourt.gok.pk |
| Gilgit-Baltistan | Gilgit, Skardu, Diamer | gbcc.gov.pk |
Structure:
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District & Sessions Judge: Head of both civil and criminal jurisdictions.
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Additional Sessions Judges: Hear appeals and major criminal trials.
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Civil Judges & Magistrates: Handle civil suits and minor criminal cases.
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Family, Consumer & Labour Courts: Operate under special laws.
4. Judicial Hierarchy in Pakistan
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Supreme Court of Pakistan – Highest appellate and constitutional authority.
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High Courts – Provincial appellate and supervisory courts.
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District Courts – General trial courts handling local cases.
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Specialized Courts & Tribunals – e.g., Banking, Anti-Terrorism, Family, Labour, and Accountability Courts.
This hierarchy ensures checks and balances, with appeals and constitutional reviews progressing upward through the judicial ladder.
5. Useful Online Resources
Conclusion
Pakistan’s judiciary functions through a clearly defined three-tier system. The Supreme Court safeguards constitutional principles, High Courts ensure provincial justice, and District Courts deliver justice at the community level.
Together, they uphold the rule of law, guarantee fundamental rights, and maintain a transparent system of accountability across the country.
