IT was good to read the Sindh High Court’s circular of Oct 16, 2012, which states that preference be given to cases of senior citizens, i.e. persons above 65. Further, it was interesting to read the recent statement of the last Chief Justice of Pakistan and the present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court emphasising Article 37 of the Constitution, which lays emphasis on expeditious and cheap justice for all citizens.

Unfortunately, this seems to be sheer wishful thinking, as it is apparent that it is followed neither in letter and in spirit nor in any shape or form. It seems cases of the rich and the powerful and politicians are heard and decided fairly quickly whereas most ‘ordinary’ litigants keep running from pillar to post to get justice.

Justice delayed is justice denied. Most cases keep on lingering and are delayed because they are adjourned. repeatedly.

I am a senior citizen suffering from prostate cancer and diabetes and have been contesting a case against illegal occupation of my property in the DHA since 1996 in the High Court of Sindh. To usurp my property, the other party has put me under tremendous mental torture which also includes political pressure and two fake FIRs against me for attempted kidnapping, murder and theft. But by the Grace of Allah, I was acwquited of all charges.

I request the Sindh chief justice to give elderly and senior citizens respect and peace of mind by dispensing their cases on an urgent basis. I hope that following suggestions will be considered:

1. Red-file cover cases should be given priority in the daily cause list by being listed at the top instead of the bottom; 2) That an hour be allocated in the morning or after 1:00 pm each day in the Courts of Appeals of the Sindh High Court to hear cases; 3) Red-file cover cases should be heard and decided within three weeks so as to alleviate the suffering of senior citizens who are generally weak and feeble or could also be widows, and 4) Lawyers representing red-file cover cases should not be allowed adjournment and should be emphatically told to proceed without delay.

Haroon Zia Malik

Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2015

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