Amendments to some laws required to end backlog of cases, says PHC CJ

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel said on Monday that backlog of cases had increased in courts due to lack of proper amendments to some laws.

“A large number of litigants would not have been facing problems in courts today had amendments been made to the laws,” the chief justice remarked while hearing a bail petition of an accused, Adnan.

The chief justice observed that in majority of areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the issue of Shamilat (shared land in a village) is about to end, but the laws were not amended.About the bail petition, the court was informed that the petitioner was booked in a Shamilat case as he reportedly violated the law for intervening in the land seized by the state in a dispute between two parties.

The lawyer said the prosecution failed to provide solid evidence and requested to release him on bail. The court adjourned the bail petition for the next hearing and issued a notice to the police and respondents to submit reply.

In another case, the same bench headed by the chief justice issued contempt of court notice to investigation officer and “Moharrar” Tehkal Police Station, directing them to appear in person.