Supreme Court helpline 1818: free legal guidance and case status by phone

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has launched a legal help call centre on 1818. Anyone with a case, or thinking of filing one, can call for court information and free initial legal guidance without travelling to Islamabad or paying a consultation fee, ProPakistani reported on Friday 9 October. Chief Justice Yahya Afridi attended the inauguration, and the first call came from a litigant, Muhammad Saleem.

What you can ask 1818

• Your case: status, hearing dates, cause lists and when a case is fixed.
• Filing: how to file a case or application, what the procedure requires and how to clear filing objections.
• Documents: how to get certified copies of judgments, orders and other court records.
• Pending matters: questions about early hearing applications.
• Online services: directions to the court's Public Facilitation Centre, its website, online case information and electronic applications.
• Free advice: an initial consultation with a legal adviser.
• Legal aid: callers who need free legal help can be referred to the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, which considers them under its legal aid arrangements.

Why it matters

For most litigants the Supreme Court is far away: a hearing date or a missing certified copy can mean a day's travel and a lawyer's fee just to ask. The Chief Justice said the service lets people get guidance without coming to court. It covers the Supreme Court only, not high courts or district courts.

Before you call

The report does not give the call centre's hours. Keep your case number, the names of the parties and the date of the order you are asking about to hand. The helpline gives guidance, not representation: for a hearing you still need an advocate of the Supreme Court.

Stay safe: court staff do not ask for payment over the phone. If anyone claiming to be from the court asks you to send money or share an OTP, hang up. Fake government websites and callers are a growing problem: how to spot a fake NADRA, FBR or BISP site.