Thousands of cases pending against the state in the district courts all over the country may be disposed of expeditiously if the number of district attorneys is increased and the existing ones work with devotion and dedication. Thousands of cases against the state are pending adjudication before the district courts across the country for years, however no serious efforts are being made by the authorities concerned to dispose of these cases swiftly by increasing the number of district attorneys and monitoring the working of existing ones. According to senior lawyers, the role of district attorneys is many-faceted and complex, thus they are required to work with devotion and dedication so that the pending cases may be disposed of swiftly. They said the proactive role of district attorneys was a key to dispensation of justice. Senior lawyer Muhammad Akram Sheikh said the district attorneys could improve the public’s confidence in them by the quality of their work. He said being qualified and licenced lawyers, the district attorneys could be an important safeguard of due process and against human rights violations.
Keeping in view the pivotal role of district attorneys and deputy district attorneys in the administration of justice, the Federal Judicial Academy has started orientation courses for these attorneys from all over the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to noted lawyer Hamid Khan, the subordinate courts and attorneys themselves had to enhance the public confidence in the judiciary by the quality of their work. To a query, he said the orientation courses for the attorneys would definitely increase their knowledge and sharpen their skills. He said just as continuing judicial and legal education was essential for judicial officers, it was essential for the district attorneys and other stakeholders of the justice system. He said since we are living in a changing world, it is essential for all the stakeholders of the judicial and legal fraternity to update their knowledge, information and skills about the emerging new trends and mechanisms for efficient and effective dispensation of justice. He said all the stakeholders of the justice system had to make committed efforts to overcome the slow pace and customary delays in the legal and judicial system.
The district attorneys/government pleaders play a vital role in the district courts in instituting/defending and conducting suits on behalf of the government. They also represent the government in all revenue and civil cases in which the government is nominated as a party. They are required to produce or controvert evidence of the parties involved in such suits/cases, thus they should be very careful about collection of evidence, selection of witnesses, production of public documents, examination and cross-examination of witnesses.
