A prolonged lockdown in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has severely disrupted court proceedings, bringing the judicial system in the twin cities close to a standstill. Lawyers report that nearly 50,000 cases have been adjourned due to strict security measures and restricted movement linked to anticipated US–Iran talks.
One of the major challenges has been the absence of accused individuals from court hearings. Authorities have not produced prisoners from Adiala Jail for the past two weeks, making it impossible for courts to proceed in cases where their presence is mandatory.
The disruption has impacted a wide range of courts, including session, civil, family, magistrate, anti-narcotics, NAB, and customs courts. Important cases involving terrorism, robbery, kidnapping, and other serious crimes have also been delayed.
Lawyers have highlighted that the backlog has worsened due to additional weekly holidays on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This has resulted in hearings being postponed for weeks, with new dates being assigned months later, particularly in civil and family matters.
The situation has caused significant hardship for litigants, especially in family disputes where scheduled meetings between parents and children have been disrupted. Working individuals are also struggling to attend court hearings due to limited working days.
Legal representatives have called for the immediate restoration of normal court operations, arguing that prolonged delays could undermine public trust in the justice system. They stressed that ensuring timely hearings is essential for maintaining confidence in judicial processes.
