Ensure timely disposal of cases: CJ FCC installs stopwatch in courtroom

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, installed a stopwatch in the courtroom, with lawyers being given 10 minutes each to present their arguments to ensure the timely disposal of cases.

According to the FCC’s official website, currently 23,409 cases pending before the court, alongside 5,869 cases disposed of and 5,723 cases instituted. The figures are presented as real-time court statistics on the FCC website.

Chief Justice FCC Amin-ud-Din Khan said the stopwatch would start ringing when a lawyer’s allotted 10- minute time ends. The time limit has been introduced to help ensure that cases are heard and decided more quickly. Fixing a specific time for lawyers’ arguments would help expedite the disposal of cases, the CJ added.

A Full Court meeting, held on April 27, 2026 under the chairmanship of the FCC Chief Justice, had resolved to ensure prompt adjudication to uphold public confidence in the judicial system and the constitutional order.

The meeting acknowledged the training modules, encompassing information technology proficiency, workplace discipline, and office ethics, as integral to fostering a modern, efficient, and responsive institutional framework.

Emphasizing the constitutional imperative of timely justice, the Chief Justice had underscored the need for accelerated disposal of cases and directed all benches to adopt effective case management practices to substantially reduce the existing backlog.

The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan was established in November 2025 through the 27th Constitutional Amendment and formally began its constitutional functions on November 13, 2025, according to the court’s official website. Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan took oath as its first chief justice on November 14, 2025.

The court has also highlighted the use of modern technology and improved case management as part of efforts to strengthen its judicial and administrative performance.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026