Rawalpindi Courts backlog: Over 43,000 cases pending in 2025

As the year 2025 draws to a close, the 74 Sessions and Civil Courts of Rawalpindi district collectively decided only 26,658 cases, while 43,351 cases are currently pending in the subordinate courts of the district.

From January 1 to November 30 of the outgoing year, a total of 26,658 judgments were delivered. Of these, convictions were secured in only 2,670 cases. During this period, 36 individuals were sentenced to death, 21 to life imprisonment, and approximately 25,000 individuals received sentences ranging from one month to fourteen years. Fines amounting to a total of Rs317.9 million were also imposed.

At the beginning of the year, on January 1 2025, there were 43,490 pending cases in the subordinate judiciary. During the year, 26,519 new cases were filed for hearing. Sessions Judges decided 3,149 cases, while Civil Judges concluded 18,730 cases.

Each year, between 40,000 and 45,000 cases remain unresolved. A major reason for this growing backlog is the acute shortage of judges in the district. Civil Judges are compelled to hear between 90 and 110 cases daily, while Additional Sessions Judges handle 30 to 45 cases per day. The limited number of judges continues to intensify the pressure on the judicial system.

Senior legal expert Advocate Shanzeeb Khan, of the Supreme Court, said that the timely submission of challans to courts must be strictly enforced.

He emphasised that forensic laboratories should be established at every divisional level and that the forensic lab established in Rawalpindi should be made operational immediately.

He added that if case dates are scheduled through mutual consultation between counsel after the framing of charges and distribution of challan copies, cases could be decided more expeditiously. He further stressed the urgent need to increase the number of judges.

Meanwhile, District Bar Association President Sardar Manzar Bashir called for the appointment of two Additional Sessions Judges and five Civil Judges in each tehsil of Rawalpindi District.

He also advocated amendments to criminal laws to reduce the number of official witnesses, proposing that only one witness statement be recorded per set. Additionally, he urged the provision of five more Additional Sessions Judges and five additional Civil Judges at divisional headquarters.