Model Courts deciding cases expeditiously

ISLAMABAD: Model Courts established by Chief Justice of Pakistan Asif Saeed Khosa have decided 888 murder cases in 15 working days.

A meeting of National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa was held here on Monday to review the performance of model courts. All chief justices of high courts were in attendance.

Director General Monitoring Cell Sohail Nasir presented details regarding the performance review of the Model Courts since its inception on April 1, 2019.

Nasir informed the committee that after counting the number of holidays and strikes by lawyers, the Model Courts had operated for 15 days in which 116 Model Courts throughout the country decided a total of 2,301 cases including 888 murder cases and 1,413 narcotics cases while statements of 9,715 witnesses were recorded.



Nasir said that some of the presiding officers decided all the cases assigned to them under the expeditious justice initiative and that they may be given some assignment.

The committee said that the concerned high courts may administratively order such arrangements under which the judges who have zero pendency may be asked to tour other districts for disposal of cases.

The committee also reviewed the progress of Police Complaint Redressal Mechanism and expressed satisfaction that during the period January to March 2019, the offices of the SP Complaints had decided around 19,000 complaints, thus reducing the burden on courts.

The committee clarified that in the last NJPMC meeting on March 11, 2019, it was decided that the high courts and sessions courts may entertain applications/cases under section 22-A Cr.P.C, after the aggrieved person had exhausted the remedy before Complaint Redressal Center of Police department and a copy of the order/decision of the superintendent police (complaints) of relevant district is to be appended with such a petition.

On the suggestions and feedback received form the representatives of bars/legal fraternity, the issues raised by the bars representatives were addressed/ resolved with consensus in an amicable manner.

The committee had resolved that an aggrieved person shall have a choice to approach either the concerned SP complaints or justice of peace directly or through a counsel who shall call a report from the concerned SP complaints which shall reach justice of peace not later than 7 days.

Where the justice of peace is approached, he shall keep the matter pending for 7 days awaiting the report where after he shall decide the same in accordance with the law.

As far as issues qua Model Courts are concerned, it was decided that case scheduling would be carried out with the consent of the concerned lawyers.

It will ensure that all legal requirements are fulfilled as per law including the manner of recording evidence by the presiding officer.