People Not Receiving Swift Justice, Says Peshawar High Court Chief Justice

Peshawar: Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, Justice S.M. Atiq Shah, has remarked that **people are not getting immediate justice**, stressing the need to strengthen the judicial system, particularly at the district level.

The observation came during court proceedings as the High Court resumed regular work after the summer recess. To mark the beginning of the new judicial year, a ceremony was held in Courtroom No. 1, attended by Chief Justice Shah, Senior Puisne Judge Justice Ijaz Anwar, and other judges of the High Court.

In his address, Justice Shah noted that thousands of cases remain pending in both the High Court and the district judiciary. However, he pointed out that progress has been made: pending cases in the High Court dropped from **39,073 to 36,702**, while the district judiciary reduced its backlog from **263,437 to 223,419 cases**.

He highlighted that the district judiciary received **485,198 new cases** last year and successfully disposed of **527,283 cases**. “Swift justice is our top priority. We have observed that people are not receiving immediate justice, so we are working to strengthen the district judiciary and ensure transparency,” he said.

Justice Shah added that special committees have been formed to address delays, particularly in civil cases, and emphasized the vital role of lawyers in improving the judicial system. “Without the cooperation of bar associations and the legal community, the justice system cannot be improved,” he stated.