MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 17: Azad Jammu & Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayyat Khan has urged lawyers to play their role for the supremacy of law and strengthening of democratic institutions.

The premier, while speaking to the members of Hajira Bar Association on Sunday, said: “We have been struggling for the stability and strengthening of democratic system and for the protection of people’s rights in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. It is the responsibility and obligation of people specially the lawyers to make their contribution in striving for the rights of the people.”

Mr Khan claimed: “The Muslim Conference played a very important role in getting the right to vote for the people of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.”

He said that being activists of the Muslim Conference (MC) they should believe in democratic system.

He told the lawyers that it was obligatory upon them to step forward for the supremacy of law and justice.

About the suggestions to give subsistence allowance to the people living along the Line of Control and affected by the Indian firing, he said the government was considering it.

The premier assured the lawyers of the resolution of their problems and announced a grant of Rs50,000 for the local Bar.

He also announced the construction of a Bar room and complex for the Hajira Bar Association.—APP

hunger strike: Members of Neelum Bar Association (NBA) on Saturday observed a token hunger strike to press the government to fulfil its commitment regarding establishing of a court of additional district and sessions judge in Neelum valley, our correspondent adds.

The strike was observed from 9 am to 1 pm outside the office of the additional deputy commissioner (general) in Kundal Shahi, which has been declared temporary tehsil headquarters in place of Athmuqam for being vulnerable to Indian gun-posts across the restive Line of Control.

The People’s Party leader and Neelum Bar Association member, Mian Abdul Waheed told Dawn on telephone that Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan had committed to a delegation of the valley based leaders from almost all political and religious parties in February that the court would be set up in view of its large area, population and (difficult) terrain.

However, surprisingly when the notification of five new posts of additional district and sessions judges was issued on July 25, there was no allocation for Neelum valley, he lamented.

He said soon after the issuance of the notification, the Neelum Bar Association members observed ‘judicial boycott’ for three days and later a public meeting was also held under the aegis of the NBA and local leaders’ front to press the government to undo the injustice, “but all those calls fell on deaf ears in Muzaffarabad”.

Mr Waheed pointed out that Neelum valley was 165 kilometres long and home to over 150,000 people whereas there were “districts” in Azad Kashmir which were less than one-third of the valley both in terms of area and population.

“Decisions should be made on merit and not under political compulsions,” he stressed.

He said that from Monday the valley-based lawyers would appear in the local courts with black armbands besides daily observing one hour boycott of the courts.