Sir: Our civil litigation system is very complex and highly saturated with a backlog of cases, waiting for years for resolution. Those associated with the legal system are aware of the adverse effects of prolonged litigation, used most of the time as a tool for confrontation and harassment. In cases where the parties are known to each other, such lengthy legal processes further damage their relations. Under such conditions, the judges, using their discretion, could direct the use of alternative dispute resolution methods. I am sure if this approach is adopted with sincerity and somehow internalized in the legal system, it can greatly reduce the burden of cases on the courts. Hashim Abro Islamabad