Key Takeaways
- Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court installed a stopwatch in the courtroom.
- Lawyers are given 10 minutes each to present their arguments.
- The move aims to reduce the backlog of 23,409 pending cases.
Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, has introduced a new measure to expedite the disposal of cases by installing a stopwatch in the courtroom. This initiative aims to ensure that lawyers have a strict time limit of 10 minutes each to present their arguments.
According to the FCC’s official website, currently 23,409 cases are pending before the court, with 5,869 cases disposed of and 5,723 cases instituted. These figures are updated in real-time on the court’s website, reflecting the ongoing efforts to manage the backlog.
Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan stated that the stopwatch will start ringing when a lawyer’s allotted 10-minute time ends. This measure is intended to help ensure that cases are heard and decided more quickly, thereby reducing the overall backlog.
The introduction of the stopwatch follows a Full Court meeting held on April 27, 2026, under the chairmanship of the FCC Chief Justice. The meeting resolved to ensure prompt adjudication to uphold public confidence in the judicial system and the constitutional order.
The Chief Justice emphasized the constitutional imperative of timely justice and directed all benches to adopt effective case management practices to substantially reduce the existing backlog. The court has also highlighted the use of modern technology and improved case management as part of its efforts to strengthen its judicial and administrative performance.
The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan was established in November 2025 through the 27th Constitutional Amendment and formally began its constitutional functions on November 13, 2025. Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan took oath as its first chief justice on November 14, 2025.
The installation of the stopwatch is part of a broader initiative to modernize the court system and ensure efficient case management. The move is expected to streamline the legal process and enhance public trust in the judicial system.
