The undue delay in the civil suits and its symbiotic harms on the litigants’ communal lives in Swat, Pakistan

Abstract

The studies show that the civil justice system in Pakistan is facing undue delay in the resolution of civil suits. However, few studies have focused on the negative impacts on familial lives. Such negative impacts could be sufficiently covered by the term symbiotic harms as the nature of impacts on the families is wide-ranging and heterogeneous. This study analyses the symbiotic harms of delayed civil suits for litigants and their loved ones in Swat, Pakistan. We utilized a quantitative approach, and primary data were collected through interview schedules from litigants whose civil suits were pending at various courts. Participants were recruited through stratified random sampling from two strata, i.e., lower courts and high courts. Various aspects of litigants' experiences were analyzed with the help of descriptive and inferential statistics. The undue delay was found in litigants' suits, as the majority of respondents reported that their suits take too much time. This delay further brings symbiotic harm to the litigants' communal lives. It is significantly associated with defective socialization of children and dependents, not maintaining familial relationships and friendships, and not participating in communal functions. For the well-being of litigants, adequate social support and legal aid should be provided to litigants.