LAKKI MARWAT: Peshawar High Court judge Justice Tariq Afridi has asked the judges of subordinate judiciary to dispose of family cases within a month as no negligence would be tolerated in this regard.

During a visit to the judicial complex in Bannu on Saturday, he inaugurated the block of alternate dispute resolution (ADR) council and inspected the bar room, lawyers’ chambers, library and other parts of the building.

Speaking at a function on the occasion, he said that the courts should be made people-friendly, ensuring availability of comfortable waiting rooms with newspapers and other facilities for litigants.

District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Naseem Khan, Peshawar High Court Bannu Bench Additional Registrar Rashidullah Kundi, High Court bar president Hafiz Muhammad Hanif and general secretary Ikramullah Marwat, district bar association president Akbarullah Wazir and general secretary Osman Sikandari were also present.

Justice Tariq Afridi emphasised the activation of the ADR for provision of speedy and inexpensive justice to people, saying that holding of reconciliatory jirga should be promoted to help settle public disputes amicably.

He lauded the role of the legal fraternity and said that the police, lawyers and other relevant institutions had played a crucial role in implementation of court judgments with true spirit.

He asked the judges not to give long dates in family cases and all such cases must be disposed of within a month to strengthen people’s trust in the judicial system.

Drug traffickers held: Police on Saturday claimed to have arrested 645 drug traffickers in separate actions during the ongoing year in Bannu district.

Sharing details with Dawn, an official said that a total of 530 cases were registered against narcotics dealers in different police stations.

He said that RPO Sajjad Khan and DPO Saleem Abbas Kulachi had supervised actions against drug peddlers as clear instructions were issued to subordinate police officials to purge their respective areas from drug barons.

“During the operation, the law enforcers eliminated narcotics dens in various parts of the southern district and seized 236 kg hashish, 109kg ice (crystal meth), 16 kg heroin and 9 kg opium and 50 litres of liquor from drug traffickers,” he claimed.

The official said that a massive awareness drive had also been launched across the district to sensitise people about the hazards of the menace and save youths from becoming victims of drug addiction. He urged the citizens to identify narcotics dens in their respective areas to help police to curb the drug menace.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2025