The Lahore High Court (LHC) Friday recommended establishing at least 18 new banking courts at different district headquarters across Punjab for speedy disposal of pending cases, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

It is learnt that the LHC chief justice had recommended 18 new banking courts in the province following which the Directorate of District Judiciary director general sent a letter to the Ministry of Law and Justice secretary in this regard.

The letter reads: “The number of pending cases in Punjab-based banking courts is increasing rapidly, and, the current number of banking courts is insufficient to dispose of the pending cases.”

It adds: “The establishment of more banking courts for speedy justice is the need of the hour. The number of cases, pending in the banking courts of 15 districts and nine divisions of the province, is above 500.”

It states: “The number of pending cases in the banking courts contradicts recommendations of Reforms Committee 1974. According to the law, pending cases in banking courts must be decided within nine months. Chief Justice Muhammad Amir Bhatti has recommended that change the scheme of banking courts established in Punjab.”

It has also been recommended reducing one of the seven banking courts in Lahore and a new banking court in Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib each.

The letter also recommends establishing two new banking courts in Faisalabad and Jhang each.

The letter also suggests establishing one new banking court in Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Hafizabad, and Sialkot each.

It has also been recommended in the letter establishing new banking courts in Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Vehari, Okara, Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bahawalnagar each.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf