GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court and subordinate courts in the region disposed of 6,332 cases over last eight months, which included 2,590 criminal, 3,582 civil cases and 160 writ petitions.

A press release issued by the Chief Court’s media cell on Saturday, said the apex court had issued a judicial mechanism in the region for providing speedy justice to the litigants.

Under the mechanism, Chief Justice of GB Chief Court Justice Sahib Khan has directed the subordinate courts to dispose of all the pending cases before start of next year.

The press release said during the period mentioned above, GB Chief Court disposed of 729 cases, district and sessions and additional sessions courts disposed of 1,794 cases, including 885 criminal and 909 civil.

Similarly, the civil courts in the region disposed of 3,796 cases, including 23 civil and 1,473 criminal during the period. GB accountability court disposed of 11 cases, anti-terrorist court 115, and banking and customs court disposed of 93 cases, respectively.

It is worth mentioning there that currently, 1,117 civil cases, 184 criminal and 81 writ petitions are pending in GB chief court, while 804 criminal and 1,374 civil cases are pending in the district and sessions and additional sessions courts; 1,093 criminal and 2,684 civil case are pending in civil courts across the region. The Chief Court chief justice said that all resources would be utilised to provide speedy justice to the people.

“Providing speedy justice is our topmost priority and no compromise would be made in this regard,” said Justice Sahib Khan.

MUHARRAM PROCESSIONS: The 7th Muharram processions ended peacefully across the Gilgit-Baltistan region under tight security on Sunday Hundreds of Alam and Tazia processions were taken out from various imambargahs in Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Skardu, Shigar, Kharmang, Ghanche and Astore districts, wherein thousands of mourners participated.

The main procession was taken out from Imambargah Nagaral Gilgit, which, after passing through its designated route, culminated at Imambargaha Qazalbash, Mohallah Gilgit.

Leaders of Ahle Sunnat Masajid Board and Ismaili Regional Council also participated in the procession.

Volunteers from Sunni sect had set up stalls to distribute water and milks among the mourners.

Police and Rangers were deployed along the routes of the processions as GB IGP Zafar Iqbal Awan supervised the security of the mourners.

Majalis were held in Qazalbash Imambargah at the end of processions. The speakers threw light on the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions at Karbala. Similarly, dozens of Alam and Tazia processions were taken out from different imambargahs in Skardu.

The processions passing through traditional routes ended at Qatalgah. Majalis were held at different points of the procession route. All the small processions also converged at Qatalgah.

Alam and Tazia processions were taken out at various places in Hunza, Nagar, Astore, Ghanche, Kharmang and Shigar.

Tight security arrangements were made to avoid any untoward incident across the region.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2016