Internet outages, power outages disrupt legal proceedings across district courts
RAWALPINDI:
A new biometric verification system was launched in the Subordinate District Court of Rawalpindi for filing all types of cases including divorce cases, powers of attorney, bail applications and submission of replies and comments.
However, already on its first day, the system completely paralyzed the process of submitting new cases and applications to the courts.
Frequent internet slowdowns, complete blackouts and repeated power outages shook the foundations of the new system on day one and sparked anger among litigants, female clients and lawyers.
Disputes arose among lawsuits at biometric verification points, while biometric stalls and centers remained crowded from morning to night. Women were especially worried while trying to get biometric verification.
At several centers, staff allegedly charged large illegal fees for verification. The District Bar Association also demanded reforms in the system.
Lawyers and litigants faced severe difficulties at Rawalpindi district courts and all tehsil courts on the first day of implementation.
NADRA offices and biometric facilitation centers witnessed massive crowds of lawyers and litigants.
Due to long queues and internet problems, a large number of women returned home without completing biometric verification. Internet disruptions and power outages crippled the system further.
Under the new system, biometric verification of applicants has become mandatory for filing family cases, bail applications, fresh cases, responses in pending cases and filing of powers of attorney. Due to the absence of women plaintiffs and the lack of biometric verification, scores of cases could not be filed, while major bail and miscellaneous applications also remained pending.
Lawyers Wahid Naz Janjua and Sibtain Bukhari said they were not opposed to the new system but criticized the abrupt shutdown of the old system.
They suggested that both systems should run simultaneously for two to three weeks. They pointed out that power outages from 9:00 a.m. to 13.00 on several days leaving claimants helpless.
They demanded open biometric verification that allowed litigants to verify from any centre, installation of generators at court facilitation centers and alternative internet arrangements to avoid inconvenience, especially for women.
District Bar Association President Tariq Mahmood Sajid Awan demanded installation of a biometric verification facility at the District Bar Office where generators and battery backups are available to prevent disruption of court proceedings. Judicial sources told The Express Pakinomist that difficulties were expected initially but the system would stabilize within a week. They said the new transparent system would help eliminate false cases.
