Supreme Court Highlights Delays and Shortcomings in Criminal Justice System
Justice Shahzad Malik raised concerns about the shortage of judges and staff.
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has raised concerns about the systemic issues affecting the timely hearing of life imprisonment appeal cases. A three-member bench, led by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, was hearing the case of Usman, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007 for the murder of Yasin in Sheikhupura. His appeal, filed in 2017, was only scheduled for a hearing after Usman had already served his sentence and been released from jail.
The public prosecutor stated that Usman was acquitted after serving his life sentence. Justice Mandokhel pointed out that the delay in scheduling the appeal was an administrative oversight, with Justice Athar Minallah criticizing the failure of successive Chief Justices since 2017 to address the issue. He noted that the Supreme Court was also administratively responsible for this delay.
Justice Minallah further emphasized that the president, governor, and parliament have the power to hold the judiciary accountable for such inefficiencies. The court also discussed broader issues within the country’s criminal justice system, including inadequate resources for investigations, with only Rs350 allocated for criminal case investigations.
Justice Shahzad Malik raised concerns about the shortage of judges and staff in both the Supreme Court and lower courts. He revealed that over 400,000 cases are pending nationwide, with many cases in the Lahore High Court. He stressed the need for infrastructure development and additional judges in lower courts to address the backlog.
During the hearing, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Deputy Advocate General raised concerns about a political issue unrelated to the case. Justice Mandokhel reprimanded him, urging that the court should focus on matters of justice for ordinary citizens, not political agendas.
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In the end, the Supreme Court disposed of Usman’s case, noting that he had already served his life sentence and been released. The court’s observations highlighted the urgent need for reforms in the criminal justice system to address delays and inefficiencies.
