Pakistan's new Chief Justice, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, faces a backlog of a staggering 30,000 cases but will have an eight-year tenure - the longest in the last few decades - to wrestle with the problem.

Added to this is the huge backlog in the four provincial high courts and the lower courts, but there are no reliable figures of the exact number of pending cases.

"It is satisfying that realisation exists at the highest judicial level that justice is not being provided at a speed that it deserves," The News noted Monday.

"There are great public expectations from Chaudhry as he would not be around as chief justice for a few months or a couple of years as it has been the case with most chief justices of Pakistan. He will preside over the apex court till Dec 11, 2013, or for eight-and-a-half years," it added.

"It may be expected that the new chief justice will not let the total sanctioned strength of judges, 17, to fall. At the same time, he must pay attention to enhancing the strength of the judges and persuading the government for the purpose even if the constitution has to be amended.

"No MP of any side would oppose such an amendment, as nobody would like (a) delay in dispensation of justice and clearance of the pending cases," The News said.

Lawyers too had a role to play and the new chief justice should engage them in a dialogue to seek their cooperation in disposing pending cases, the newspaper added.