Kashmir solidarity protest held outside Indian High Commission in London on Youm-e-Istehsal

  ISLAMABAD:Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Sarfraz Dogar has said that public confidence in the Islamabad High Court and district courts has increased significantly, as reflected by the sharp rise in the number of cases being filed before the courts. Addressing a ceremony held at the Islamabad High Court on the occasion of Independence Day, Justice Sarfraz Dogar said that the number of cases filed in the high court had increased nearly fivefold. He noted that there was a time when the daily filing rate remained below 50 cases, whereas the court is now receiving around 250 cases every day. According to the chief justice, the substantial increase in case filings indicates that people are increasingly turning to courts in the hope of obtaining relief and having their grievances addressed through the legal system. He said the growing number of cases was also an indication of the public’s confidence in the judiciary and its ability to provide justice. Justice Dogar acknowledged that the judiciary was facing several challenges, particularly a shortage of judges. Despite these difficulties, he said, courts were continuing to perform their responsibilities with dedication and commitment. He stressed that the primary responsibility of the judiciary was to ensure that every deserving person received justice in a fair, impartial and transparent manner. He further highlighted the importance of cooperation between judges and lawyers, describing the bench and the bar as two essential pillars of the judicial system. He said effective coordination between the two was necessary to improve the delivery of justice and ensure that citizens could obtain timely relief. Speaking about the country’s future, the chief justice said that the protection and stability of Pakistan was a collective responsibility. He urged citizens to keep the country away from conflict, disorder, extremism and politics based on hatred. He emphasized that Pakistan’s progress could only be achieved through sincerity, mutual respect, unity and a positive contribution from all segments of society. Justice Dogar also referred to what he described as Pakistan’s significant diplomatic and defence achievements over the past two years. He said the country had strengthened its position internationally through effective diplomatic efforts and had emerged as an important voice for peace in the international community. The chief justice particularly highlighted developments in defence cooperation among Muslim countries. He described efforts to bring Islamic countries together on a common platform for defence cooperation as a historic development. According to him, the initiative reflected a vision that had previously been associated with former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had advocated greater unity and cooperation among Muslim nations. Justice Sarfraz Dogar said Pakistan’s national institutions had an important role to play in strengthening the country and maintaining public confidence. He stressed that institutions must continue to work according to constitutional principles, the rule of law and national interests. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of tolerance, unity and respect in addressing differences. He said that Pakistan could move forward only when its institutions and citizens worked together to promote justice, stability, peace and national development.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of violating the election code of conduct ahead of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. Speaking at a press conference after a Sindh cabinet meeting in Karachi, Memon claimed that the ruling party was using its government position to influence the electoral process. During the briefing, Memon also announced that the Sindh cabinet had approved a six-month extension of the health insurance program for employees of the Governor House and Chief Minister House. He added that travel allowances for government employees from Grade 1 to Grade 16 had also been increased. Commenting on the recent heavy rainfall, the provincial minister said several districts in Punjab had been severely affected. He claimed that recent rains resulted in casualties in both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and criticized what he described as limited media attention to the situation. Turning to the political situation, Memon alleged that senior leaders of the federal and Punjab governments were focused on campaigning in Azad Kashmir instead of addressing public issues. He expressed confidence that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would secure a convincing victory in the upcoming AJK elections. The minister also criticized what he described as governments formed through “manufactured mandates,” saying that true political legitimacy comes through public support. He reiterated that the PPP is not part of the federal coalition government and said the party had only extended support to strengthen the democratic process. Memon further alleged that infrastructure development has been concentrated in Punjab while Sindh has not received similar attention, particularly in the construction of major motorways. His remarks drew criticism from Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari, who defended the Punjab government’s development record and rejected the allegations. She argued that provincial resources are being spent on the welfare of Punjab’s residents and questioned the Sindh government’s own performance. Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique also responded, saying critics should first examine the condition of their own provinces. He defended Punjab’s drainage system, claiming rainwater in Lahore is cleared within hours, unlike in parts of Sindh where waterlogging often persists for days. The exchange of statements highlights the growing political rivalry between the PPP and PML-N as campaigning for the AJK elections intensifies.