Overall pendency of criminal cases before SC reduced since Oct 2024

ISLAMABAD: The overall pendency of criminal cases before the Supreme Court has been reduced from 19,549 to 12,705 cases since the assumption of office by Justice Yahya Afridi as the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) in October 2024.

The statement issued on Monday said that, in translating reform into measurable outcomes, the SC, under the leadership of the CJP, continues to strengthen criminal justice delivery through sustained institutional reforms, effective case management, and a firm commitment to expeditious and fair adjudication.

It said that since the assumption of office by the CJP in October 2024, the overall pendency of criminal cases before the SC has been reduced from 19,549 to 12,705 cases, reflecting a substantial and sustained decline in backlog.

This progress is further reflected in weekly disposal trends. During the week 9–14 February 2026, the SC disposed of 354 criminal cases alone relating to death sentences and life imprisonment, while 131 cases of the same category were instituted. The disposal during the week was approximately 270 percent higher than the institution, underscoring sustained momentum in criminal adjudication, proactive bench constitution, and the Court’s focused approach to reducing pendency of cases.

These outcomes flow from a consistent and structured reform policy endorsed in recent reform review meetings chaired by the CJP. It was decided that all pending death sentence cases up to January, 2026, would be prioritized, with all death sentence and life imprisonment cases targeted for disposal within the next 45 days. Dedicated benches, reform groups, and judicial teams are actively pursuing these objectives through structured planning, continuous monitoring, and coordinated institutional efforts.

The SC’s sustained focus on criminal justice reform also aligns with the CJ’s broader reform agenda concerning under-trial prisoners. Clear directions have been issued to regulate, expedite, and introduce predictable timelines for jail petitions from filing to disposal, to reduce uncertainty, ease the hardships faced by under-trial prisoners, and ensure humane and constitutionally compliant justice delivery.

These measures reinforce the Court’s policy of zero tolerance for stagnation in criminal litigation and affirm the judiciary’s unwavering resolve to uphold the rule of law through timely, decisive, and effective judicial action.

Meanwhile, the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) in its meeting tasked the Commission’s Secretariat with developing a comprehensive framework for a free legal aid and advisory mechanism, including systemic arrangements in collaboration with the High Courts and the bar regulatory bodies.

The framework will explore modalities for institutionalizing pro bono commitments and funding out of the relevant window of the Access to Justice Development Fund. The initiative is aimed at ensuring that no deserving litigant goes unrepresented and that every citizen, regardless of financial means, has access to legal advice and assistance.

The Commission reaffirmed its resolve to implement inclusive and responsive law reforms to strengthen an accessible, efficient, and equitable justice system for all.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026