25 February 2004	Wednesday	04 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, Feb 24: The $350 million Asian Development Bank's loan for access to justice programme will help strengthen the judiciary and policing in Pakistan.

This was stated by the former federal minister for law and justice Barrister Shahida Jamil while speaking as chief guest at the concluding session of the British Council's Law Week Seminar here on Tuesday evening.

Barrister Shahida said that this programme was being implemented from 2002 right at federal level. She pointed out that this Asian Development Programme dealt with the judiciary as well as with the police. This programme would have a tremendous impact and it would help strengthen the judiciary as well as the policing, she added.

She said that it would bring in the DNA testing and the forensic evidence, which were scientifically accepted throughout the world.

The speaker pointed out that when the first tranche of this loan came the interior ministry made the project for the first ever forensic laboratory, which had been put up in Islamabad. Such laboratories would also be set up in the four provincial capitals in the country, she added.

Shahida Jamil was of the view that with reliable and scientific evidences it would be easier for the judges to come up with good judgments. She said that all the required improvements were there in the access to justice programme.

She further said that under the programme websites were also being developed, which would make laws public. These websites would not only help lawyers and judges but also general public.

Earlier, the acting director of the British Council Karachi, Samina Khan, presented the welcome address. She said that the seminar "How law and lawyers in the UK ensure access to justice" had a wider significance. She said that the issues of governance in Pakistan were varied and represented a large agenda for those seeking to promote reforms.

Barrister Amber Khan called for creating awareness among the people regarding the fundamental rights available in the Constitution. She said that the law schools had a role to play in this very respect.

Ms Amber also pointed towards the delays in the disposal of cases in the courts and said that this was mainly owing to the inadequate infrastructure. She was of the view that the problem of access to justice in the country was a complex one.

Barrister Zahid Jamil highlighted the significance of well- prepared case after doing necessary research. He also asked the legislators to undertake the necessary law making. Ms Kate Olley, a member of the young lawyers delegation from Britain, also addressed. - APP