RAWALPINDI, April 13: The number of regular cases in Rawalpindi District Courts has swelled to over 13,000 since lawyers took to the streets for restoration of the pre-November 3 judiciary. Besides, an astounding number of petty family cases are also lying unresolved in the courts.

Figures obtained from the record section of the district courts on Saturday revealed that ordinary cases, which are usually resolved in two hearings, also awaited adjudication.

There are 20 civil judges in Rawalpindi tehsil, five in Gujar Khan, three in Kahuta, one in Murree and three in

Taxila. However, the number

of pending cases has doubled after lawyers started their movement.

Only in Rawalpindi tehsil, over 1,545 family cases, with some clients seeking divorce or claiming share in property, are pending with the courts.

In Gujar Khan and Taxila, the number of family cases has reached 116 and 241, respectively. In Kahuta and Murree tehsils, family cases pending with the courts have also doubled.

Interestingly, verdicts on some cases have also not been implemented and the number of such cases has swelled to 1,877 (execution petitions).

Litigants, particularly prisoners, are the worst sufferers due to the delay in dispensation of justice, as a single hearing can save them from jail life.

A superintendent in the courts on condition of anonymity said the daily average disposal of cases had drastically declined due to the protest movement of lawyers, adding in majority of cases a judge postponed hearing due to absence of prosecution and defence lawyers.

He said the number of cases pending with the courts in other cities was even more appalling, adding clients in Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan and other cities were also hardly hit by the lawyers’ protest.

When asked about the situation, Col (retired) Khan Bahadur Khattak, a high court lawyer, said he was committed to his profession only, adding he was neither in favour of the lawyers’ movement nor the sacking of the chief justice of Pakistan.

“What I am supposed to do is to manage two-time’s meal for my family.

The murderers of my own young son, who was killed just three days after the March 9, 2007 event, are yet to be traced,” he added.