SC backlog dips due to case transfers

Over 22,000 cases moved to FCC; filings still outpace disposals

ISLAMABAD':

For the first time in its history, the Supreme Court has registered a marked decline in its backlog of pending cases - not as a result of accelerated disposal, but due to the transfer of tens of thousands of matters to the newly constituted Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).

The backlog at the SC, which had crossed 56,000 cases, has dropped to around 33,700 following the transfer of more than 22,900 cases to the FCC after the enforcement of the 27th Amendment.

According to official data, between January and November 2025, a total of 19,370 new cases were instituted at the SC, while 20,665 cases were disposed of during the same period. Despite disposals marginally exceeding fresh filings, the overall pendency stood at 56,608 cases as of November 2025.

However, following the constitutional changes, 22,910 cases were transferred from the SC to the FCC, bringing the number of pending cases at the apex court down to 33,698.

The data further shows that judicial capacity was expanded during 2024 and 2025 through 31 meetings of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), resulting in the appointment of 53 judges across the superior judiciary.

The appointments included eight judges to the SC. Two judges and one chief justice have been to the IHC, three judges and two chief justices to the BHC, ten judges and one chief justice to the PHC, twelve judges and one chief justice to the SHC and thirteen judges to the LHC.

At present, 18 judges, including the chief justice of Pakistan, are performing judicial functions in the SC, against a sanctioned strength of 34 judges.