Transparency: SC to publish weekly update of petitions

ISLAMABAD: In a significant move towards transparency and efficiency in the judicial process, the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has announced a series of measures to enhance openness by systematically recording and disclosing all filed and pending petitions on a weekly basis.

A statement from the SC, the decision was reached during a meeting between the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), senior pusine Judge, Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, and elected representatives of the Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association.

Representatives of the bars also proposed the issuance of a monthly approved petition list to assist lawyers and concerned parties in adequately preparing their cases and attending court proceedings. In response to this request, the Supreme Court also pledged to implement the approved petition list on a four-week cycle. In a proactive step SC has already released the approved cause list for the month of October.

To facilitate access to the proposed cause list and maintain transparency, the Supreme Court has made it available on its official website. Adjustments to the list can also be requested through the same platform.

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Per commitment of regularly sharing data on the number of cases filed and disposed of each week, SC says, between September 18th and 25th, a total of 225 petitions were filed. Impressively, 205 petitions were resolved during this timeframe – barring CMA cases.

This dedication to openness and accountability in the administration of justice by the superior judiciary marks a significant step forward for Pakistan’s legal system, setting a strong example for lower judiciary as well.