Drug courts directed to bring disposal rate up to 60 percent

The drug courts have been directed to bring disposal rate up to 60 percent within next three months in order to wipe out pending cases. Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who is also chairman of National Judicial (Policy Making) Committee (NJPMC), showed displeasure regarding the slow disposal rate of the drug courts. He was chairing the meeting of chairpersons of the drug courts in Pakistan.
LJCP secretary Dr Muhammad Raheem Awan presented the pendency and disposal figures of the drug courts during January to June 2018. The Chief Justice observed that none of the courts have achieved a satisfactory disposal rate. He cautioned that underperformers would be strictly dealt with. The drug courts chairmen informed that accelerated disposal cannot be achieved mainly due to the reason that the requisite staff and members of the drug courts are not available. Upon this, the NJPMC chairman stated that shortage of staff, etc, should not be an impediment in the dispensation of justice.
However, the Chief Justice further directed the LJCP secretary to examine the drug laws in Pakistan for suggesting amendments therein for expeditious disposal of cases. He also directed that the relevant ministries and high courts should be requested to make available resources to the drug courts. He further directed Additional Registrar (Administration) Supreme Court of Pakistan, Khawaja Daud Ahmad to chalk out the problems of the drug courts and contact the relevant authorities for their immediate redressal.