KP district attorneys told to submit legal opinions with case verdicts

PESHAWAR
District attorneys in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be required to submit written legal opinions along with court verdicts in all government cases, regardless of whether the outcome is favourable or adverse, as part of efforts to strengthen legal defence, ensure timely follow-up and protect public resources.
The directive was issued by Adviser to the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department Amir Javed, who warned that negligence in pursuing government litigation would not be tolerated.
Chairing a meeting in Peshawar on Thursday to review implementation of directives issued on Oct 15, Mr Javed ordered an independent audit of 400 civil cases. He also directed the law secretary to establish a complaints cell to address negligence by district attorneys, with similar cells to be set up at the district level in deputy commissioners’ offices.
According to a performance report presented by the director general of Law and Human Rights, government departments secured favourable verdicts in 2,511 of the 3,296 civil cases decided between Sept 1, 2025, and Sept 30, 2026, representing a success rate of around 76 per cent. The remaining 785 cases were decided against the government.
The report put the aggregate financial liability associated with the cases at Rs4,327.96 million, while financial estimates were unavailable for 116 cases.
Mr Javed directed officials to conduct a focused review of litigation performance in Battagram, Charsadda, Malakand, Nowshera, Peshawar, Swat and Torghar. He also called for strict implementation of the litigation policy and audits of district attorneys’ performance.
The adviser directed the relevant departments to make their litigation cells functional and ensure the timely provision of essential legal records. He also stressed the need to train district attorneys and hold the officials concerned accountable for shortcomings.
He further called for the effective functioning of the Litigation Management System and SAP system, the filling of vacant posts, and improved coordination between the Advocate General’s Office and the Directorate General of Law and Human Rights. Mr Javed directed that district attorneys submit monthly performance reports and warned that disciplinary action would be taken in cases of negligence.
He also ordered the issuance of appreciation notes to the district attorneys of Abbottabad, Upper Dir and Bannu for achieving success rates of 92 per cent, 91pc and 92pc, respectively.
He urged the departments concerned to address administrative and legal weaknesses and improve their performance to ensure more effective protection of the government’s interests and greater transparency in legal proceedings.