CJ PHC calls for swift and transparent justice delivery -

STAFF REPORT PESHAWAR: The District & Sessions Judges Conference was held at the Peshawar High Court, Peshawar, chaired by the Administration Committee comprising Hon’ble Chief Justice Mr. Justice S. M. Attique Shah, Hon’ble Senior Puisne Judge Mr. Justice Ijaz Anwar, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arshad Ali, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sahibzada Asad Ullah, and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Muhammad Naeem Anwar. Hon’ble Chief Justice S. M. Attique Shah underscored the importance of a responsive and assertive judiciary, emphasizing that it is the collective duty of judges to ensure inexpensive, transparent, and swift justice. He urged District & Sessions Judges to make their districts models of effective justice delivery marked by fairness, fearlessness, and independence. The Chief Justice directed strict action against corrupt elements, stressing zero tolerance for malpractice within the judiciary. He called for curbing delays in cases, particularly those involving under-trial prisoners, rent, inheritance, and matrimonial disputes, and highlighted the effective use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for timely case resolution. Commending the district judiciary’s performance in reducing the case backlog by 73%, His Lordship encouraged sustained efforts to further improve disposal rates. Hon’ble Senior Puisne Judge Mr. Justice Ijaz Anwar, in his address, emphasized timely decisions and resilience in justice delivery. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Arshad Ali called for continuous judicial capacity building and effective trial scheduling for better case management. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sahibzada Asad Ullah urged judges to adopt a proactive approach to uncover the full truth, while Hon’ble Mr. Justice Muhammad Naeem Anwar highlighted the importance of thorough evidence appraisal at both trial and appellate levels. The Registrar presented a five-year performance overview of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa District Judiciary and key features of the Strategic Plan 2025–30. Presentations were made by senior officials on human resources, case statistics, ICT integration, and developmental projects. Concluding the conference, the Hon’ble Chief Justice appreciated the district judiciary’s role and assured full institutional support from the Peshawar High Court to ensure inexpensive and expeditious justice for the public.