Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial has said since the armed forces of Pakistan play an important role to defend the country that’s why they are looked upon with great respect and admiration, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Talking to a 49-member delegation of the Command and Staff College, Quetta, led by Lt Colonel Hashim Iqbal Bajwa, which called on him in Islamabad on Friday, the CJP briefed them about the salient features of the 1973 Constitution and the powers of the Supreme Court as laid down in it. 

Spokesman for the Supreme Court said that besides Pakistan, officers of 20 other countries were also included in the delegation. 

On the other hand, CJP Bandial, who has taken oath to his office only two days ago, is faced with an increasing backlog of cases as their number has now risen to 53,547.

According to a report, 118 more cases were added to the backlog already pending with the SC dated between January 16, 2022 and January 31, 2022.   

The report reveals that presently 30,427 civil cases are sub judice. “Similarly, 28 suo motu notices and one reference are also pending,” the report says.

Furthermore, the apex court is yet to decide the fate of 133 petitions pertaining to basic human rights, while the number of criminal cases and jail petitions has exceeded 11,000. 

It has also been disclosed that no hearing was held during the last 15 days of January at the SC’s Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar registries.  

Reporter Amanat Gishkori