RAWALPINDI:
As the year 2025 draws to a close, the 74 sessions and civil courts of Rawalpindi district have 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 past year, a total of 26,658 judgments were issued. Of these, convictions were obtained in only 2,670 cases. During this period, 36 people were sentenced to death, 21 to life imprisonment, and approximately 25,000 people were sentenced to terms ranging from one month to fourteen years. Fines totaling Rs317.9 million were also imposed.
At the beginning of the year, as of January 1, 2025, there were 43,490 cases pending in the subordinate court system. 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. One of the main reasons for this growing backlog is the severe shortage of judges in the district. Civil judges are required to hear between 90 and 110 cases per day, while additional sessions judges hear 30 to 45 cases per day. The limited number of judges continues to intensify pressure on the justice system.
Senior legal expert Shanzeeb Khan of the Supreme Court said that timely submission of complaints to courts must be strictly enforced.
He stressed that forensic laboratories should be established at each divisional level and the forensic laboratory established at Rawalpindi should be made operational immediately.
He added that if the dates of the cases were fixed through mutual consultation among the lawyers after framing of charges and distribution of Challan copies, the cases could be decided more quickly. He further stressed the urgent need to increase the number of judges.
Meanwhile, district bar association president Sardar Manzar Bashir called for appointment of two additional sessions judges and five civil judges in each tehsil of Rawalpindi district.
He also advocated amendments to criminal law to reduce the number of official witnesses, proposing that only one witness statement be recorded per series. In addition, he requested the provision of five additional judges for the additional sessions and five additional civil judges at the divisional headquarters.
