CJP asks govt to form 120 new accountability courts for quick disposal of pending cases.

ISLAMABAD -- Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed on Wednesday asked the government to establish 120 new accountability courts for the disposal of pending corruption references within three months.

CJP ordered the law secretary to set up new courts after getting approval from the authorities concerned.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed and comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Yahya Afridi, heard a case today regarding a delay in the trial of cases by the accountability courts, in light of Section 16 of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999, requiring the wrapping up of NAB cases within 30 days.

The court, in its order, noted that five accountability courts were vacant in Pakistan, whereas 1,226 cases were pending.

The bench said no reason had been given as to why the vacant posts had not been filled up.

"We are unable to understand the logic behind the vacant posts for such a long time,' it said, adding that according to the law, accountability courts should announce decisions within 30 days.

'The courts [are] vacant for years and cases of that court remain pending," the court order stated.

The bench said the whole purpose of making of accountability law apparently seemed to be rendered futile if the courts were allowed to remain vacant.

The bench noted that the number of pending cases in the accountability courts demand more than a hundred judges/courts for dealing with and deciding these cases, as cases were being filed regularly and their numbers were also increasing while the numbers of courts were totally stagnant.

"In these circumstances, we direct the law secretary to immediately seek instructions from the government on proposal of creating at least 120 accountability courts in Pakistan and to fill-up such courts with the judges and distribute all pending cases among them so that these cases are decided at a fast pace and also in accordance with the time frame...