High court reports having handled over 100,000 cases so far this year

The Director of Administration of the Afghanistan High Court, Jawed Rashidi, said on Tuesday that over 103,000 civil cases have been heard by the court so far this solar year.

Addressing an event on the “Government Accountability Program to the Nation” Rashidi said corruption cases involving at least eight former ministers were brought before the court since April. However he would not disclose the names of the ministers.

“Eight cases involving the ministers have been referred to the special investigation committee of the Supreme Court and the court has already issued its verdict on two cases,” he said.

“In one case, the accused has been notified to appear in court. In the event of him being absent, a trial in absentia will take place,” Rashidi added.

In addition, the court handled 4,213 murder cases, 5,172 theft cases, 1,489 cases of moral crime and rape, 1,052 corruption cases, 1,015 human trafficking and kidnapping cases, 5,417 cases of violence against women and children and 6,450 cases of drug smuggling.

However, journalists participating at the event accused the high court of a lack of accountability since the start of this solar year.

Journalists said there had been no press conferences or briefings by the court since April and that they have only limited access to information.

“In the past year, the high court and related institutions have not had any coordination with the media,” said Zulfoqar, a reporter.

“As a journalist, I am not satisfied with the work of the high court in granting access to information,” said Shakeeb Mawolavizada, another journalist.

The Access to Information Commission says it has received various complaints from various news and information sources that the high court is unwilling to provide information to the public and the media.

“We have developed a joint procedure with the Attorney General’s Office and the high court, and the court is accountable to everyone,” said Waliullah Misbah, a technical adviser at the commission for access to information.

But the high court says there are no restrictions on the right of access to information by them and their reporting of information has improved.