Supreme Court Disposes 4,372 Cases In CJP Afridi's First Month

A meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan summoned for December 6 to decide on a replacement for Justice Malik in May 9 cases

Supreme Court Disposes 4,372 Cases In CJP Afridi's First Month

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has disposed of over 4,000 cases in the first month of new Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, data released by the top court showed.

The top court said that from October 28, 2024 (Monday) to November 29, 2024 (Friday), the court had disposed of 4,372 cases, while 1,853 new cases were instituted.

According to the Supreme Court's spokesperson, since his appointment in late October, the court has made significant strides in dispensing justice under the leadership of the new Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi. 

"These achievements reflect a renewed impetus towards clearing the backlog of cases and providing timely relief," stated the press statement.

It added that CJP Afridi and other judges had worked to ensure that the country's highest court remains responsive to the needs of the public.

"In addition to accelerating case disposal, the chief justice has placed judicial reforms at the forefront of his agenda," the statement said, adding that over the past month, Chief Justice Afridi has chaired several sessions to review progress in key areas of dispensing justice, including advancements in information technology to modernise court operations, improvements in case management processes, and the optimisation of human resources. 

"These efforts aim to streamline workflows, reduce delays, and enhance the capacity of judicial staff."

Chief Justice Afridi has also prioritised capacity-building and training initiatives to equip judicial officers and staff with the skills needed to address evolving challenges.

"Recognising the importance of public engagement, the chief justice has
emphasised broader consultation with stakeholders through feedback mechanisms." 
"These initiatives are designed to make the judiciary more transparent, accessible, and citizen-focused, ensuring that the Supreme Court continues to uphold its constitutional mandate with integrity and efficiency."

Constitutional bench

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Afridi has summoned a meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on December 6 to consider the nomination of Justice Shahid Bilal as a member of the Constitutional Bench. 

An Intra-Court Appeal (ICA) regarding the trial of civilians involved in the May 9 incidents in a military court was put up before a three-judge constitutional committee.
 
The meeting had decided that Justice Ayesha Malik, a member of the bench, could not sit on the bench since she had heard the main case earlier.

The writer is an Islamabad based journalist working with The Friday Times. He tweets @SabihUlHussnain