Model courts’ performance in Rawalpindi: 4,714 cases disposed of in seven months

Rawalpindi: Only in seven months, from May 10 to December 20, 2017, the model trial courts have disposed of 4,714 cases of different nature including murder cases, narcotics cases, illegal possession cases and kidnapping for ransom cases. It was a record that sessions model trial courts have decided 276 murder cases in seven months in this regard.

The sessions and civil model trial courts have recorded statements of total 10,578 witnesses in these cases in seven months. ‘The News’ collected information from District and Sessions Judge, Rawalpindi office that total 4,714 cases of different nature have disposed of in short span of time. In sessions model trial courts total 276 murder cases were decided while 3,340 witnesses recorded. Total 1,085 narcotics cases have been decided in seven months while 3,474 witnesses recorded their statements in these cases. Similarly, model trial courts have decided 162 cases of different nature included kidnapping for ransom and illegal possessions while 136 witnesses recorded their statements in these cases.

The sessions model trial courts have decided total 1,523 cases while recorded statements of 6,950 witnesses. The civil appellant courts have decided 1,014 cases in seven months. The civil model trial courts have decided total 2,177 cases while recorded statements of 3,628 witnesses in these cases.

Total civil appeals filed before May 10, 2017 were 777 while civil appeals filed after May 10, 2017 are 237. All appeals have been decided by civil appellant courts. There are only 10 model courts with six additional sessions judges and four civil judges working to dispose of cases of different nature.

The model courts had been inaugurated by Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on May 10, 2017 in Rawalpindi. The aim of the courts was to lower the number of pending cases in the Rawalpindi district.

Rawalpindi District Bar Association (RDBA) General Secretary Irfan Khan Niazi has appreciated the performance of model trial courts regarding disposal of cases in speedy manner. He appreciated the role of District and Sessions Judge, Rawalpindi Sohail Nasir in this regard.  

Talking to ‘The News’ poor clients belong to different walks of life have appreciated model courts in Rawalpindi. They said that they were waiting to decide their cases for years but model trial courts showed best performance in seven months.