By Asif Naveed
ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan’s superior and district courts continued to face an enormous caseload during June 2026, with more than 2.2 million cases pending at the beginning of the month despite courts disposing of over 2.46 million cases during the reporting period.
According to the latest judicial statistics, a total of 2,222,685 cases were pending before superior and district courts across the country at the start of June 2026. During the month, 2,399,790 new cases were instituted, while the courts collectively disposed of 2,461,702 cases.
As a result, the overall number of pending cases declined, but the backlog remained substantial. By the end of June, 2,168,293 cases were still pending across Pakistan’s judicial system.
The figures show that while courts disposed of more cases than the number of new cases filed during the month, the country’s judicial system continues to face significant pressure due to the large volume of litigation.
Over 300,000 Cases Pending in Superior Courts
Pakistan’s superior courts, including the high courts, carried a significant share of the pending caseload.
At the beginning of June, 317,988 cases were pending before the superior courts. During the month, 125,073 new cases were filed, while 137,008 cases were disposed of.
By the end of June, the number of pending cases before the superior courts stood at 303,384, reflecting an overall reduction during the month.
Lahore High Court Records Highest Number of Pending Cases
Among the high courts, the Lahore High Court recorded the highest number of pending cases.
At the beginning of June, 169,035 cases were pending before the Lahore High Court. During the month, 71,325 new cases were instituted, while the court disposed of 85,854 cases.
By the end of June, the pending caseload at the Lahore High Court had declined to 155,292 cases.
The figures indicate that although the Lahore High Court disposed of more cases than were filed during the month, it continues to carry the largest backlog among the high courts.
Situation in Other High Courts
At the High Court of Sindh, 55,383 cases were pending at the beginning of June. During the month, 19,213 new cases were filed and 18,016 cases were disposed of. The pending caseload subsequently increased to 56,712 cases by the end of the month.
The Peshawar High Court had 36,138 pending cases at the beginning of June. A total of 17,019 new cases were filed, while 17,475 cases were disposed of. The pending caseload at the end of the month stood at 33,105 cases.
At the Islamabad High Court, 17,157 cases were pending at the beginning of June. During the month, 6,326 new cases were filed, while 4,730 cases were disposed of. The number of pending cases subsequently rose to 17,745 by the end of June.
The Balochistan High Court began June with 6,385 pending cases. During the month, 2,963 new cases were filed and 1,838 cases were disposed of, leaving 7,465 cases pending at the end of the month.
District Courts Carry the Heaviest Caseload
The statistics show that Pakistan’s district judiciary continues to bear the overwhelming burden of the country’s judicial caseload.
At the beginning of June, 1,904,697 cases were pending before district courts across Pakistan. During the month, 2,274,717 new cases were filed.
The district judiciary disposed of 2,324,694 cases during June. Despite the disposal of more cases than were newly filed, 1,864,909 cases remained pending at the end of the month.
The figures highlight the immense pressure on district courts, which handle a far greater volume of cases compared with the superior judiciary.
Punjab District Courts Face the Largest Burden
Punjab’s district judiciary continued to carry the largest share of the country’s pending cases.
At the beginning of June, 1,435,045 cases were pending before district courts in Punjab. During the month, 1,741,781 new cases were filed.
Punjab’s district courts disposed of 1,781,359 cases, exceeding the number of newly instituted cases. However, 1,397,203 cases were still pending by the end of June.
The figures show that Punjab’s district judiciary remains under considerable pressure because of the province’s large population and the high volume of civil and criminal litigation.
Provincial and Islamabad District Courts
In Sindh, district courts had 178,965 pending cases at the beginning of June. During the month, 211,118 new cases were filed, while 204,482 cases were disposed of. The pending caseload increased to 185,804 cases by the end of June.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, district courts began the month with 221,032 pending cases. A total of 238,523 new cases were filed, while 251,632 cases were disposed of. By the end of June, the number of pending cases had declined to 216,007.
Balochistan’s district courts had 18,430 pending cases at the beginning of June. During the month, 26,587 new cases were instituted and 26,108 cases were disposed of, leaving 18,916 cases pending at the end of the month.
In Islamabad, the district judiciary began June with 51,225 pending cases. During the month, 56,708 new cases were filed, while 61,113 cases were disposed of. The pending caseload declined to 46,979 cases by the end of June.
Criminal and Civil Cases
The overall judicial statistics also provide a breakdown of criminal and civil litigation.
At the beginning of the reporting period, 766,057 criminal cases were pending. During June, 1,538,555 new criminal cases were filed, while 1,555,237 cases were disposed of.
In civil matters, 1,422,738 cases were pending, while 853,008 new civil cases were filed during June. Courts disposed of 897,370 civil cases during the same period.
The figures demonstrate that Pakistan’s courts managed to dispose of a significant number of cases during June 2026, exceeding the number of new cases filed during the month.
However, the closing balance of more than 2.16 million pending cases highlights the continuing challenge facing the country’s judicial system.
With 1,864,909 cases pending before district courts and 303,384 cases pending before superior courts at the end of June, the statistics underline the persistent pressure on the judiciary and the need for continued measures to improve judicial capacity, reduce delays and ensure the timely delivery of justice.
