Performance of model courts

A total of 12,584 murder and narcotics cases have been decided in around five months by 167 model courts established across the country to conduct speedy trials, according to official data. Against the backdrop of 1.9 million cases pending before law courts at different levels as of January 21, 2019, this is indeed an encouraging sign. This shows that the setting up of model courts is giving the desired results. The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, had ordered the setting up of model courts for swift disposal of the criminal cases involving heinous offences that mostly remain pending before overburdened sessions courts. The model criminal courts (MCTCs) decided 4,897 murder and 7,687 narcotics cases by conducting expeditious trials since their establishment on April 1 this year. A total of 55,619 witnesses were examined in these cases. A district and sessions judge of the MCTC Islamabad-West topped the list by deciding 69 murder cases, followed by an additional district and sessions judge of the MCTC Qambar-Shahdadkot who decided 60 murder cases. An additional district and sessions judge of the MCTC Mardan decided 55 murder cases.

The statistics show that the model courts in all the four provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory have given good results by deciding cases in a few months which might otherwise have dragged on for years.

In most developing countries, court cases linger on for years and decades. There are several causes of this. Law courts have to be fully satisfied before they deliver their judgments. The basic principle on which law functions is, let 99 murderers go scot free, but no innocent should be punished. Law courts are not supposed to rush through while deciding cases. However, sometimes circumstances arise when speedy trial courts are set up to clear logjam of cases. Adjournments sought by lawyers also delay cases. In recent years in Pakistan, lawyers often go on strike to protest issues confronting society as a whole and sometimes only themselves. Unnecessary delays in dispensation of justice should be discouraged. This is what the model courts are doing.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2019.

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