THIS is apropos your editorial ‘Slow pace of justice’ (April 13). The summum bonum of your 10 points is two million pending cases, some 20 to 30 years old, inefficient prosecution, outdated court procedures, corruption, a plethora of suo motu actions, and tardy decisions including the posthumous acquittal of two innocent brothers accused of murder.

Hold a survey. The man in the street is terrified of seeking judicial justice. Take my case, a ‘civilian officer paid out of defence services estimates’ who retired after 39 years of cumulative service.

I was transferred by my parent department to the Pakistan Air Force. Despite several reminders from my parent department and the lapse of over 16 years (including nine post-retirement years), I have not been paid my rent arrears amounting to Rs73,554 for the period from Nov 1, 2001 to Nov 30, 2002 (Rs 5,658 per month).

The PAF never refused my title to the payment in writing, presumably to incapacitate me from approaching the Federal Service Tribunal. Our chief justice takes notice of cases where officers were deputed to lucrative departments. Will the CJP take suo motu notice of cases where officers are posted on quasi-deputation without their consent and denied their statutory allowances?

Amjed Jaaved
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2018