Punjab caseload rises to 1.5 million as courts grapple with shortage of judges

While there may be a few things to cheer about at the start of 2025, the provision of timely justice still remains a big issue in Punjab as 1.5 million cases are still pending in the province’s courts, including the Lahore High Court (LHC), reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.  

The matter has been exacerbated by the fact that the LHC is short of 25 judges while the district courts of 750 judges and that two LHC judges and 20 sessions judges will retire this year, which will further increase the number of pending cases in courts.  

The situation has led to a demand by both litigants and lawyers that vacant posts be filled immediately. 

LHC judge Justice Anwar-ul-Haq Pannu will retire on March 27, 2025.

Similarly, Justice Baqar Ali Najafi, also of the LHC, will retire on September 14.

District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Zahid Ghaznavi will retire on January 2 (tomorrow); District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Tanveer Akbar on January 3; District and Sessions Judge Abdur Razzaq  on February 13; District and Sessions Judge Tariq Mehmood Zargham on March 2; District and Sessions Judge Abdur Rasheed Abid on March 27; District and Sessions Judge Ghulam Abbas on April 30; District and Sessions Judge Irfan Ahmad Saeed on May 4, and District and Sessions Judge Ghaffar Mehtab will retire on June 15. 

Likewise, District and Sessions Judge Anjum Raza Syed will retire on August 10; District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Ibrahim Asghar on August 18; District and Sessions Judge Javed Iqbal Sheikh on September 1; District and Sessions Judge Qamaruz Zaman on September 20; District and Sessions Judge Asad Ali on October 15; District and Sessions Judge Shahid Islam on November 3; District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Nawaz Marath on November 7; District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Kaleem Khan on November 13 and District and Sessions Judge Malik Shabbir Ahmad will retire on November 23.

Similarly, District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Muhammad Tariq Javed will retire on November 28; District and Sessions Judge Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh on December 26 and District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Naveed Iqbal will retire on December 31.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf