Courts abolish Saturday holiday

RAWALPINDI: Courts in Rawalpindi resumed regular Saturday work after the withdrawal of Friday and Saturday holidays that had been introduced under an energy conservation programme, ending a two-month slowdown in activity at the district judiciary.

On Saturday, proceedings continued across sessions, civil, family, magistrate and special courts. Accused persons in different cases were brought from Adiala Jail, lawyers appeared in court, and judges heard matters through the day.

During the day’s proceedings, the sessions, civil, family and special courts granted physical remand of 33 arrested suspects and sent 21 accused to jail on judicial remand. The courts also approved bail for 16 suspects while rejecting bail pleas of nine others. In separate cases, 12 accused were sentenced and 10 were acquitted.

Family courts granted divorce decrees to four women and issued notices to husbands in six newly instituted family cases. One woman was reunited with her son, two women were sent to Darul Aman, and another was permitted to leave the shelter home. The courts also issued arrest warrants for nine accused and declared five people proclaimed offenders. In addition, arrest warrants were issued for four police officials, salaries of three officials were withheld, and the auction of properties owned by seven loan defaulters was ordered.