ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) on Wednesday said its Judicial Reform Action Plan, launched in November 2024, had produced significant results by reducing the backlog of cases and speeding up the disposal of matters relating to personal liberty, family disputes, taxation and rent litigation.The reforms, based on targeted case management, data-driven monitoring, technology-enabled initiatives and priority hearing of the oldest pending cases, have substantially improved the age profile of cases before the court, said a nes release.The most notable progress had been made in criminal matters involving personal liberty. Death appeal cases being heard have advanced from those instituted in 2015 to cases of 2026 after the disposal of 608 appeals, leaving only 22 pending cases of 2026.Similarly, bail before arrest petitions have progressed from 2020 to 2026 following the disposal of 2,156 petitions, while bail after arrest cases have advanced from 2009 to 2026 after 2,303 petitions were decided, leaving only 66 pending cases.
The press release said delays in family litigation had also been significantly reduced, with the court deciding 1,065 family cases and advancing hearings from older cases to those instituted in 2026.
In taxation matters, the Supreme Court said focused case management enabled it to move from hearing cases of 2011 to those of 2019 after deciding 506 tax cases, reducing the backlog and contributing to greater commercial certainty.
The court also reported substantial progress in rent litigation, advancing from hearing cases instituted in 2011 to those of 2026, leaving only 46 rent cases pending.
The Supreme Court said it remained committed to sustaining the reform process and ensuring that cases involving life, liberty, family rights and commercial matters continued to receive priority.