ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has made significant progress in case disposal and commitment to addressing case backlogs. From September 25 to September 30, the court disposed of 257 cases (excluding CMAs) and instituted 204 new cases during this period.
The statement released by the apex court highlighted Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa’s commitment, along with other judges of the top court, to accelerate case disposal and alleviate the backlog, emphasizing their dedication to providing relief to litigants.
Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who assumed the role of Chief Justice of Pakistan on September 17, faces several challenges. These include addressing issues such as holding general elections within 90 days, conducting trials of civilians in military courts under the Army Act, and addressing political parties’ concerns about civil liberties.
One of the major tasks before him is the hearing of review petitions challenging the top court’s verdict on the Faizabad sit-in, authored by CJP Isa on February 6, 2019. This judgment directed intelligence agencies not to exceed their constitutional mandate and specifically addressed their role during a 20-day sit-in organized by the TLP in 2017.
Notably, the Ministry of Defence, PTI, and the ECP submitted applications to withdraw their pleas related to the Faizabad sit-in judgment.
CJP Isa has made significant strides in his tenure, including forming a full court on his first day, creating history by suggesting live streaming of court proceedings, and offering to devolve his discretionary powers. He has also questioned past judgments and held meetings with legal representatives and law officers to improve the efficiency and working of the Supreme Court.
Additionally, CJP Isa appointed the first female apex court registrar and has been praised for timely communication with lawyers regarding the filing and adjournment of applications in the apex court.
