As part of the Judicial Reform Action Plan initiated in November 2024, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has made significant strides in reducing backlog and accelerating the disposal of priority cases involving personal liberty, family disputes, taxation and rent matters.
According to a press statement released by the Registrar Office, the apex court has substantially advanced the age profile of cases being heard, demonstrating the tangible impact of institutional reforms on the administration of justice through targeted case management, data-driven monitoring, technology enabled reforms and a policy of prioritizing the oldest pending cases.
The most striking progress is visible in the following categories:
Death Appeals: In October 2024, the oldest pending death appeals being heard by the Court related to the year 2015. By July 2026, the Court had advanced to hearing cases instituted in 2026, reflecting an eleven-year advancement. During this period, the Court disposed of 608 death appeals, reducing pendency to 22 appeals of year 2026.
Bail Before Arrest: In October 2024, the Court was hearing cases of 2020. By July 2026, it had progressed to 2026, eliminating six years of accumulated backlog. During this period, the Court disposed of 2156 bail before arrest petitions, reducing pendency to only 23 petitions of 2026.
Bail After Arrest: In October 2024, the oldest pending matters related to the year 2009.
By July 2026, the Court had advanced to hearing cases of the year 2026, representing a remarkable seventeen-year improvement. During this period, 2303 bail after arrest petitions were decided, reducing pendency to 66 cases of the year 2026.
Family Cases: The Court has significantly reduced delays in family litigation by advancing from hearing cases of the year 2010 to the year 2026. 1065 family cases were decided during this period leaving the balance to 150 pending cases out of which 122 are of year 2026.
Bail After Arrest: In October 2024, the oldest pending matters related to the year 2009. By July 2026, the Court had advanced to hearing cases of the year 2026, representing a remarkable seventeen-year improvement. During this period, 2303 bail after arrest petitions were decided, reducing pendency to 66 cases of the year 2026.
Family Cases: The Court has significantly reduced delays in family litigation by advancing from hearing cases of the year 2010 to the year 2026. 1065 family cases were decided during this period leaving the balance to 150 pending cases out of which 122 are of year 2026.
Taxation Cases: Focused case management and dedicated hearing schedules enabled the Court to progress from hearing tax matters of the year 2011 to the year 2019, substantially reducing the backlog in revenue litigation and contributing to greater commercial certainty. During this period 506 cases were decided leaving the balance to 842 cases, out of which 608 cases are of year 2025 and 2026.
Rent Cases: Long-pending rent litigation also witnessed remarkable progress, with the Court advancing from hearing the cases of the year 2011 to the year 2026, facilitating quicker resolution of rent disputes and significantly reducing pendency to 46 cases of the year 2026.
The Supreme Court remains committed to sustaining this momentum and ensuring that matters involving life, liberty, family rights and commercial certainty continue to receive the highest priority.
