Prominent legal expert Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed has warned that using artificial intelligence to prepare judicial rulings without properly verifying the output could result in erroneous judgments and undermine the administration of justice in Pakistan. Speaking to Geo News, Ahmed said that cases involving AI-assisted judicial decisions were emerging in district courts, raising concerns about the accuracy of legal references and precedents cited in judgments. He described the practice of relying on unverified AI-generated material as unacceptable, particularly when litigants must approach appellate courts to challenge decisions based on incorrect information. Ahmed called for greater awareness among judges and other legal professionals about the limitations of artificial intelligence in legal work. His remarks highlight the risks associated with adopting AI tools in judicial processes without adequate oversight, especially when the accuracy of a decision depends on applicable laws, established precedents and careful interpretation of legal arguments.
Ahmed recounted an instance in which a judge had used AI to draft a judicial decision that he later challenged during an appeal. According to the legal expert, he examined the legal references and judicial precedents cited in the judgment and found that the authorities on which the decision relied did not exist. When he informed the judge that the ruling had been prepared with the assistance of AI, the judge questioned how he had reached that conclusion. Ahmed explained that his examination of the cited material revealed the problem. He noted that preparing a judicial decision requires consideration of multiple legal aspects and can take four to five hours when undertaken by a human, whereas AI tools may generate a draft within minutes. However, speed does not guarantee accuracy. Generative AI systems can produce convincing but incorrect information, including fabricated case citations, misleading summaries and references that appear legitimate but cannot be verified against authoritative legal records. In judicial proceedings, such errors can affect the reasoning behind a decision and create additional work for litigants, lawyers and appellate courts.
The concerns come as Pakistan’s judiciary has already taken steps to establish a framework for responsible AI use. In April 2026, the National Judicial Policy Making Committee approved national guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in judicial institutions. The framework positions AI as an assistive technology rather than a replacement for human judicial decision-making, with an emphasis on human oversight, accountability, data protection and ethical use. The Supreme Court had also previously highlighted that AI tools could assist with legal research and drafting but must not replace judicial reasoning or discretion. These principles are particularly important because AI-generated errors may not always be obvious to users who are unfamiliar with the legal material being produced. A fabricated precedent can appear authentic when presented in formal legal language, making independent verification essential before it is included in a judgment or legal submission. Ahmed’s warning reinforces the need to ensure that technology supports judicial work without compromising the accuracy of legal reasoning or the rights of litigants.
Ahmed has called for seminars and workshops to improve understanding of AI among legal professionals and help them recognise the risks associated with its use. Training could cover how to verify citations, consult official legal databases, assess AI-generated summaries and identify unsupported claims before relying on them in court proceedings. Judges and lawyers also need to understand that responsibility for the accuracy of legal material remains with the professional using the technology. AI can assist with organising documents, summarising lengthy records and preparing preliminary drafts, but its output requires careful review against authoritative sources. The issue is not limited to Pakistan, as courts in several countries have encountered cases involving fabricated legal citations generated by AI tools. As the legal sector explores ways to use technology to improve efficiency, establishing clear procedures for verification and accountability will be important. Ahmed’s remarks underline that faster document preparation should not come at the cost of legal accuracy, judicial independence or public confidence in the justice system.
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