Pakistan's Top Judge Just Debunked a Rumor About Judges' Long Vacations

Chief Justice Yahya Afridi just took on one of the most common criticisms leveled at Pakistan's judiciary — and did it head-on during a full court meeting. His announcement wasn't just about clearing backlogs; it was also about correcting a perception he says simply isn't accurate.

Courts Are About to Start Sitting at Night

Here's the headline change: judicial benches will now also sit in the evening specifically to hear cases seeking early hearings. This isn't a minor scheduling tweak — it's a structural shift aimed directly at reducing the pending case backlog that has long been a source of public frustration.

No More Personal Fixing of Cases

In a move toward transparency, the CJP revealed that the case-fixing policy has been placed online, and — notably — no case is now fixed even on his own personal direction. That's a significant statement about limiting discretionary control over which cases get prioritized.

The Vacation Myth He Wanted to Kill

Here's where things got interesting. Chief Justice Afridi directly rejected the widely held perception that judges take three months of leave. According to him, judges actually take only one month's leave during a three-month period — a much smaller gap than the popular narrative suggests.

75 Cases, One Bench, One Day

To illustrate the pace at which courts are now operating, the CJP shared a striking number: as many as 75 cases had been fixed before a single bench on one day. That's a substantial workload for one bench to handle, and it's being used as evidence of increased efficiency.

Double-Checked, Not Just Listed

Adding another layer of accountability, two officers now recheck cases included in the cause list before they proceed — a quality-control step meant to catch errors before cases reach the courtroom.

A Dedicated Bench Just for Urgency

Beyond evening sittings, Justice Afridi announced that a separate bench is being constituted specifically to hear applications seeking early hearings. This bench, too, will sit in the evening to dispose of such cases — effectively creating a fast-track lane within the court system.

The Shariat Appellate Bench Gets a New Rhythm

In another scheduling update, the Shariat Appellate Bench will now sit for one full week every two months, giving this specific bench a more predictable and structured operating calendar going forward.

Why This Matters Beyond the Courtroom

Case backlogs are one of the most persistent complaints citizens have about judicial systems worldwide, often translating into years-long delays for ordinary people seeking justice. Structural changes like online case-fixing policies, evening benches, and dedicated fast-track courts directly target the mechanics behind those delays.

The Bottom Line

Evening courtrooms, an online case-fixing system, a myth about judicial vacations publicly corrected, and 75 cases cleared by a single bench in a single day — together, these moves paint a picture of a judiciary actively trying to reshape how quickly justice moves in Pakistan. Whether these changes translate into a genuinely shorter wait for the average litigant is the real test still to come.