IHC disposes of 6,018 cases in 2013, another 6,500 submitted

The IHC is facing an influx of cases while it experiences a shortage of manpower.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has disposed of 6,018 cases whereas around 6,500 new cases have been submitted during the last year.  

From the cases that were disposed of, 137 were old, 2,791 urgent, 457 motion cases and 2,633 were notice cases.

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Cases disposed of in 2013
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The pendency of cases with the IHC has increased to an estimated 12,500 cases. However, the strength of IHC judges could not be enhanced to the required level.

About 8,500 cases were transferred from the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench to the IHC after its re-establishment.

Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan is set to retire on May 2014 leaving behind only three judges if further appointments are not made by the Judicial Commission.

The sanctioned strength of IHC judges is seven, including the chief justice. Currently, there are four IHC judges including Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan, Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui.

Under the IHC Act, the total strength of the judges is seven aside from the chief justice: "Each of the six other judges will be appointed from provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory and Federally Administrated Tribal Areas."

In January 2011, three judges including former IHC Chief Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman of Punjab, Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi of Baluchistan and Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa were appointed as the IHC judges.

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan, in its meeting on October 27, 2011, recommended the names of Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui from Punjab, Justice Noorul Haq N Quraishi from Sindh and Mohammad Azim Khan Afridi from FATA for the vacant positions of the IHC judges.

However, the Judicial Commission on October 23, 2012 did not give an extension to judge Justice Azim Afridi.

Later, on February 24, Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman, Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, was made judge of the Supreme Court thereby creating another vacancy.

On August 3, 2013 the Commission meeting was held but could not form a consensus on the names of lawyers including Haroon Rashid, Anees Jillani and Raja Ishtiaq for the additional judge of IHC.