Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has disposed of 12,223 cases and 20,001 human rights’ (HR) applications from January to August 2016, according to official data of the apex court.

The abovementioned duration also witnessed filing of 14,562 new cases with institution rate of cases ascending to unprecedented levels. The backlog was recorded around 30,404 cases.

A total 27,916 cases were pending on judicial side till December 31, 2015, while 14,562 new cases were instituted and 149 cases were restored during this year, as such the progressive total of the pending cases reached to 42,627 cases.

Of the total, 12,223 cases were disposed of, leaving a total 30,404 pending cases, according to the record. Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali has expressed satisfaction over the disposal of cases while reviewing the institution, disposal and pendency of judicial cases and human rights applications during the period mentioned above.

With an aim to provide inexpensive and expeditious justice to litigants and to minimise the backlog of cases, the chief justice also constituted various regular and larger benches at the principal seat, Islamabad, as well as at registries to expedite cases and clear backlog.

Despite summer vacations, the court continued to function on regular basis and the chief justice as well as the judges of the Supreme Court continued to hear cases.

At the principal seat, 8,464 cases were instituted while 8,228 cases were disposed of during the period.

At Lahore branch registry, 4,259 cases were instituted while 2,578 cases were disposed of. Similarly, at Karachi branch registry, 1,051 cases were instituted while 1,370 cases were disposed of.

At Peshawar branch registry, 629 cases were instituted while 47 cases were disposed of and in Quetta 159 cases were instituted. A total 10,526 applications were pending in HR Cell till December 31, 2015 and during the last eight months, 19,253 new applications were received by it, as such progressive total of pending applications remained 29,779. Out of these, 20,001 applications were redressed and disposed of, reducing the pending applications 9,778.

According to PR Cell of the Supreme Court, the chief justice of Pakistan appreciated the efforts of judges and expressed hope that very soon the court would succeed in considerably reducing pendency by expediting disposal
of cases.

It is pertinent to mention that the chief justice also took suo motu notices of many issues involving question of public importance with reference to enforcement of Fundamental Rights under Article 184(3) of the Constitution. Major amongst them were illegal appointments, promotion and adjustments without any advertisement/interview on basis of bogus service structure in Sindh Health Department, payment of Rs 50 million fee to various advocates by EOBI to defend its former chairman Zafar Iqbal Gondal, failure of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) to refund passengers when flights were cancelled due to strike against its privatization, cutting of trees from Margalla Hills and Lora, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) by stone crushing mafia, miserable condition of Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, political influence and interference in the working of Sindh Police, deputation of Police Service of Pakistan officers in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), delay in carrying out census in the country, non-performance of constitutional duties by the Election Commission of Pakistan, illegal transplantation of human organs, abduction of children in Punjab and illegalities, contraventions and violations in appointments within National Accountability Bureau (NAB).