RAWALPINDI:
Amid a record increase in family divorce cases across the district, the District Bar Association has strongly objected to two-month hearing intervals in family cases and requested the District and Sessions Judge Rawalpindi to ensure decisions within four to six months by granting shorter dates.
District Bar President Tariq Mahmood Sajid Awan and Secretary Qamarul Haq Khan Niazi held a special meeting with District and Sessions Judge Rawalpindi Nasir Hussain, where consensus was reached on expediting the disposal of family cases.
The bar also proposed the formation of an “Investigation Commission” comprising judges, bar members, and police officers to oversee transparent investigations in serious cases including murder, robbery, and rape, to which the sessions judge agreed in principle.
Detailed discussions were held on court affairs, security issues, and litigant facilities, and it was decided to bring the bar, bench, and administration onto a single platform for swift justice. Decisions were also taken to repair non-functional escalators at the judicial complex, ensure foolproof security, activate CCTV cameras, end punishment based solely on FIR allegations, and issue merit-based instructions to all judges.
The bar president said acquittals granted by the high court should instead be issued by sessions courts to reduce the burden on higher judiciary and provide relief at the subordinate level.
He added that long dates in divorce, khula, dower, and maintenance cases cause serious difficulties for women litigants and must be reduced.
He further stressed transparent investigations in murder cases to prevent acquittals on technical grounds, simplify the system of obtaining certified copies of court records, ensure same-day issuance, and maintain daily cleanliness of court washrooms.
