LAHORE: Lawyers across Punjab have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the mandatory biometric verification system for filing court cases.Introduced in January and effective from March 2026, the system was intended to prevent fake litigation, impersonation, and the use of bogus witnesses or sureties, and to modernise judicial processes.However, lawyers say it has turned into a gatekeeping mechanism, making access to justice harder, particularly for poor and vulnerable litigants.Technical glitches and inadequate infrastructure are causing delays, and additional fees have imposed financial burdens on ordinary citizens.

Lahore Bar Association and Lahore High Court Bar Association have formally raised objections, demanding longer validity periods for verification and exemption for subsequent civil applications and criminal cases where verification is unnecessary.

Critics argue that the fee model effectively becomes revenue generation at the expense of litigants, with some alleging it borders on legalised extortion.Comparisons were drawn to Islamabad High Court, which charges minimal fees without extra levies.

Legal experts warn that the current system disproportionately affects illiterate and marginalised segments and urged that access to justice should remain swift, affordable, and fair.