Security restrictions in Islamabad’s Red Zone halt court operations, worsening case backlog and delaying key hearings
ISLAMABAD: Judicial proceedings at the Islamabad High Court remained suspended throughout the week due to continuous closure of the Red Zone, leading to significant delays in the hearing of hundreds of cases, officials and legal sources said.
According to court sources, no hearings were conducted from Monday to Thursday as access to the Red Zone remained restricted amid heightened security arrangements linked to the second round of Iran–United States negotiations. The disruption has added to the already growing backlog of pending cases.
Legal experts said the suspension of judicial work for four consecutive days has further strained the court system, with litigants and lawyers facing increasing uncertainty. Friday was already a non-working day for judicial proceedings under an austerity policy, compounding the delays.
Several important cases, including petitions seeking suspension of sentences in the high-profile 190 million pounds case, could not be heard. The case had been scheduled for April 22, but the cause list was canceled due to the court’s closure.
In addition, a case related to preventing tree cutting in Islamabad was also scheduled for hearing but could not proceed due to the suspension of court operations.
Officials indicated that the situation may worsen in the coming days, as a possible transfer of judges to other high courts is expected next week. Such transfers could further increase the workload and contribute to delays in case disposal.
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