FOR over 15 years, the Insurance Tribunal in Sindh has operated without a chairman or regular members. This vacuum in leadership has allowed hundreds of insu-rance cases to pile up, leaving countless people in distress and without any hope of swift justice.

The absence of effective leadership has allowed insurance companies to exploit this void, leading to delays in claim settlements, denied justice, and a lack of accountability. Families dealing with health crises, accidents, or other emer-gencies are the ones who suffer the most. The government has a responsibility to ensure that all citizens have access to justice, especially in matters as critical as insurance claims. It must immediately appoint a tribunal chairman.

Furthermore, additional reforms are necessary to improve transparency, and to streamline case processing within the tribunal. Perhaps digital case management systems could help reduce the backlog, or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms could expedite certain types of claims. Introducing a fast-track option for critical cases, such as those involving health or accident claims, could help ensure that people receive timely resolutions. Establishing strict deadlines for insurance companies to respond to the claims could also prevent undue delays.

The people of Sindh deserve a fair and functioning insurance tribunal. By modernising the tribunal as well as updating all its protocols, the govern-ment can create a system that serves the people as it was initially intended.

Yasir W. Sattar
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2024