LAHORE, April 7: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sayed Zahid Husain after assuming the office of his office on Jan 1, 2008, has paid special attention to mitigate the sufferings of litigants, especially women and children.

As a result of the new policy, pending family cases were reduced to half while appeals were reduced to one-thirds with the cooperation of advocates during the first quarter of the year.

According to a handout, the chief justice evolved altogether a new strategy for adjudication of family cases pending for years and ordered family courts and appellate courts throughout Punjab and Islamabad to dispose of such family matters on war-footings.

As such in the judicial history of the country, a remarkable disposal of cases was witnessed first time in a short span of time.

On Dec 31, about 76,000 family cases and 3,200 appeals were pending in civil courts of all districts of Punjab and Islamabad whereas from Jan 1, 2008, till March 31, 2008, 27,200 fresh family cases and 1,600 appeals were filed.

On the directives of the chief justice, 65,000 family cases and 3,700 appeals were decided on a priority basis by March 31, 2008. As such, the number of family cases reduced to 37,700 and appeals to 1,100.

After reviewing the disposal and pendency of cases, the chief justice expressed his satisfaction and termed the performance encouraging.

He praised the performance of subordinate courts and called it a welcome step towards ameliorating the sufferings of litigants. He hoped that in the coming three months, pending cases would be reduced to a minimum bottom level.