SC to clear backlog through special benches
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—14474 cases are pending in the Supreme Court while 3505 more cases were filed during this period out of which 2690 cases were disposed of leaving a balance of 15289 cases.
This was relayed in a Full Court meeting held Tuesday in the Conference Room of the Supreme Court building at Islamabad.
The meeting was presided over by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Chief justice of Pakistan and attended by the Hon’ble Judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan namely Mr. Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, Mr. Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, Mr. Justice M. Javed Buttar, Mr. Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Mr. Justice Ijazul Hassan, Mr. Justice Mohammad Qaim Jan Khan, Mr. Justice Mohammad Moosa K. Leghari, Mr. Justice Ch. Ejaz Yousaf, Mr. Justice Muhammad Akhtar Shabbir, Mr. Justice Zia Perwez, Mr. Justice Mian Hamid Farooq, Mr. Justice Syed Sakhi Hussain Bukhari, Mr. Justice Syed Zawwar Hussain Jaffery, Mr. Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali and Mr. Justice Muhammad Farrukh Mahmood.
The Full Court reviewed the pendency, institution and disposal of cases over the last four months. In the beginning of November 2007, the Court had a pendency of 14474 cases while 3505 more cases were filed during this period out of which 2690 cases were disposed of leaving a balance of 15289 cases.
The full Court examined the details of the different categories of pending cases. Currently, there are 5255 civil petitions, 473 civil review petitions, 4800 civil appeals, 1083 criminal petitions, 1869 criminal appeals, 604 jail petitions, etc. considering the nature of the different categories of cases, the Full Court approved various measures for quick disposal of cases, e.g. constitution of special benches for criminal cases and civil cases, at least one bench for hearing of cases involving death sentence and two benches for civil appeals. The office has been directed to prepare category-wise/year-wise lists of cases and place the same before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan for constitution of appropriate benches.
The Full Court noted that proper attention could not be paid to the disposal of cases during the year 2007, which led to the piling up of huge backlog. However, the Court expressed its entire satisfaction over the pace of disposal during the last four and a half months. The office was also directed to give priority in fixation of cases filed against interim orders inasmuch due to the pendency of such matter, cases remain pending before the lower forums and do not attain finality. The Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan appreciated the dedicated efforts of the Hon’ble Judges for speedy disposal of the cases.
The meeting also considered matters relating to the welfare of the retired judges of the Supreme Court and directed the office to facilitate the Hon’ble Retired Judges in every possible way. The Court also examined the proposal of the office for up-gradation of posts of Supreme Court employees and enhancement of Judicial Allowance, however, the Court directed the office to place these matters along with necessary details in the next meeting.