I WOULD say that I find the judiciary independent ever since I joined the legal profession in 1961. I always got justice from courts and so did those who were honest to their clients, well-versed with facts and laws, involved in the cases, and worked hard to assist the learned judges in the expeditious disposal of cases and dispensation of justice.

The situation worsened when a vacuum was created by the abrupt packing of the judiciary by a military dictator on Nov 3, 2007, and its subsequent restoration resulting in an acute shortage of judges and multiple problems, administrative or otherwise.

The gradual induction of new judges may ameliorate the situation to some extent, but it will take some time when they may be able to discharge their functions satisfactorily in the reduction of the judicial workload.

The filling of the remaining vacancies to attain the full strength of honest and competent judges is nevertheless the need of the time in the larger interest of litigants.

In view of the above state of affairs, numerous public litigants, particularly elderly people, women and children, became victim of the inaction of courts and the usual delaying tactics of the other sides, who actually did not want the disposal of the cases.

Unfortunately, no speedy and effective orders are passed even on the interlocutory applications, which might have cut short the litigations.

But it is a sad commentary that when the judiciary has now become independent, poor litigants are by and large facing great hardship in pursuing their cases, notwithstanding the judicial activism of the apex court.

However, now there is a ray of hope for at least senior citizens, widows and orphans to have their cases pending in the Sindh High Court decided without further loss of time.

Sindh Chief Justice Mushir Alam has issued a circular saying that preference be given to the cases of senior citizens, widows who have not remarried and orphans whose both parents have expired.

In case the applicants opt for fast track, they should move an application which would be heard in the court and decided accordingly. Once priority is given to a particular case, the roster will fix that case on a weekly basis. The file cover of the cases to which priority has been allocated should be of a different colour, preferably ‘red’, to attract the attention of judges. The circular is self-explanatory.

BARRISTER IQBAL AHMAD Karachi

Old litigation

JUSTICE is nothing if not quick and effective relief to the affected and aggrieved. Through this letter, I would like to draw the attention of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to CPLA 1607/2012, a matter in continuous litigation, for the last 31 years.

The National Judicial Commission promises quick trials. The Quran and Sunnah advocate speedy justice. For or against us, I beg the honorable Chief Justice for an early disposal.

ABDUL SALAM DADABHOY Karachi