SC disposes more cases than filed in first quarter of 2026

Death penalty appeals to be fixed within 30 days as backlog shows decline

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court of Pakistan disposed of more cases than it received over the past three months, reflecting improved case management and a slight reduction in backlog, according to an official statement issued after the 10th progress meeting on judicial reforms, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi.

During the period, 3,600 new cases were filed, while 5,383 were decided, reducing the number of pending cases to 34,083. The meeting reviewed monthly performance, efforts to modernize judicial processes, and measures to enhance efficiency.

Read: CJP reviews progress on judicial reforms agenda

CJP Afridi appreciated the improved disposal rate and directed further steps to strengthen case management. The meeting also decided that all pending death penalty appeals would be scheduled for hearing within the next 30 days, and cases instituted up to 2018 would be prioritised to relieve the burden of older litigation.

However, lawyers noted that the pace of case disposal in both the Supreme Court and the Federal Constitutional Court remained largely unaffected following the 27th Amendment. Before the establishment of the constitutional court, the apex court had 56,608 pending cases, of which 22,910 were transferred, leaving 33,698 with the Supreme Court. Despite the redistribution, over 56,000 cases remain pending across both courts.

Read More: Lawyers question impact of 27th Amendment

Legal experts acknowledged some improvement in the disposal of criminal cases over the past two years but raised concerns over the effectiveness of the constitutional court in reducing the overall backlog.

Former additional attorney general Tariq Mahmood Khokhar criticised the court, saying that despite having seven judges, it had failed to significantly ease the backlog, noting that substantial public funds were being spent without tangible relief for litigants. Advocate Hafiz Ehsan Ahmed also called for increasing the number of judges to improve judicial efficiency.