SC backlog rises in August
A general view of the Supreme Court of Pakistan building at the evening hours, in Islamabad, Pakistan April 7, 2022. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
The Supreme Court of Pakistan has witnessed a significant increase in pending cases during the month of August, soaring from 54,965 to 56,544, according to a report released by the apex court on August 31.
In just one month, an additional 1,579 cases were added to the already substantial backlog.This backlog comprises various categories, including 30,578 civil petitions, 9,875 civil appeals, 9,384 pending military requests, 1,653 review requests awaiting disposition, and 25 suo motu cases initiated by the court itself. Additionally, one reference case remains pending in the Supreme Court.
The rise in pending cases is a matter of concern, as it further burdens an already overwhelmed judicial system. In July of the same year, the Supreme Court experienced its highest number of pending cases since the inception of the country in 1947, with 54,965 cases awaiting resolution as of June 30.
When Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial assumed office on February 2, 2022, there were 53,964 pending cases in the Supreme Court.
During the tenure of his predecessor, CJP Gulzar Ahmed, over 10,000 cases were added to the backlog.
Nevertheless, despite two vacant positions for Supreme Court judges for an extended period, the number of pending cases was reduced by 2,000 cases within a year.
In a statement issued by the Supreme Court on February 25 of the same year, it was reported that the number of pending cases had decreased from 54,735 to 52,450 in a year.
On September 12, 2022, CJP Bandial expressed optimism that with the continued efforts of his fellow judges, the Supreme Court would be able to reduce the number of pending cases to around 45,000 within the next six months. Unlike his predecessor, CJP Bandial maintained discipline in the formation of benches to streamline the court's proceedings.
However, the situation took a turn when the Supreme Court, under the leadership of CJP Bandial, invoked suo motu jurisdiction to address the delay in elections for two provincial assemblies in February of the same year.
This intervention added to the court's workload and contributed to the growth of pending cases.The fortnightly report issued in July revealed the alarming figure of 54,965 pending cases as of June 30, signifying an increase of more than 2,000 cases since February.