Shocking! More than 2 million cases pending in courts

ISLAMABAD: In a proactive effort to enhance transparency and streamline judicial processes, the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan has released its bi-annual report of judicial statistics for the period from July to December 2023. Despite a slight increase in the overall pendency of cases, the report highlights a significant milestone in the disposal of cases across various levels of the judiciary.

According to the report, the overall pendency of cases in courts has increased by 3.9%, reaching a staggering number of 2.26 million during the second half of 2023. However, this increase is attributed to the continual filing of new cases, with 2.38 million new cases filed during the period.

Despite the rise in pending cases, the courts managed to decide 2.30 million cases, reflecting a commendable effort in case disposal. The Law and Justice Commission revealed that 82% of the pending cases (1.86 million) were at the district judiciary level, with the remaining 18% (0.39 million cases) at the upper tier, including the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court, and high courts.

The report further highlighted the distribution of pending cases, indicating that civil cases constitute 81% of the cases pending in the high courts, while criminal cases account for 19%. Similarly, at the district judiciary level, civil cases constitute 64% of the pending cases, with the remaining 36% comprising criminal cases.

In a separate development, the Supreme Court released its quarterly report from September to December 2023, revealing a significant milestone in case disposal. The apex court disposed of more than 5,000 cases in four months, surpassing the number of cases filed during the same period.

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Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa emphasized the importance of fulfilling the people’s right to information as enshrined by Article 19-A of the Constitution. The expedited handling of cases by the Supreme Court underscores its commitment to better serve the people of Pakistan, ensuring timely justice and judicial efficiency.

Overall, the proactive approach of the judiciary in case management and disposal reflects a concerted effort to address the backlog of cases and uphold the principles of justice and accountability in Pakistan.