March 6, 2002	Wednesday	Zilhaj 21, 1422

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MUZAFFARABAD, March 5: AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan on Tuesday said true respect of freedom demanded establishment of the rule of law in letter and spirit.

Speaking at the oath taking ceremony of the Muzaffarabad Central Bar Association, he called upon the lawyers to help the government in enforcing the supremacy of law.

“You belong to society’s most educated and intelligent class and it is binding upon you to lend helping hands to the government so that the goal of the supremacy of law is achieved,” the premier said vowing that his government would make the common men feel that the constitution and laws were being followed in letter and spirit.

The premier stressed upon the law enforcing agencies to ensure that the law was respected warning that otherwise no one would respect them.

The administration, particularly the police, would have to play an active role in the present situation so that the confidence of the masses in them was revived, he said.

He asked the administration to support the government, which, he claimed, was taking steps not only for the early success of the Kashmir freedom movement but also for the speedy development of Azad Kashmir under a concrete planning.

The premier also called for strengthening of the institutions “because strong institution laid the basis of a strong country.”

He announced a donation of Rs100,000 for the association and said the lawyers would be allotted residential plots and medical package for them would also be implemented.

He said the process for shifting of the district courts from the congested premises in the main city to the Old Civil Secretariat was also underway. He said a building would be constructed for the bar association.

Earlier, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan told the audience that the government was in contact with different bar associations to ascertain their proposals regarding bringing improvement in the judicial system.

A meeting would be held in the ongoing month to discuss the judicial reforms, he said, asking the lawyers to extend their cooperation to the government for carrying out that task.

CBA President Haji Mohammad Ashraf also spoke. The PM administered oath to the office-bearers of the association.

A resolution was also adopted on the occasion which expressed deep concern over the ongoing massacres of the Muslims in Indian state of Gujarat and condemned New Delhi for patronizing the killing spree of Hindu fanatics.