FAISALABAD, Sept 25: Federal Law Minister Muhammad Wasi Zafar has said that centuries old civil and criminal procedures of law would be updated as per needs of the day and the task would be achieved within a month.

Speaking to the members of District Bar Association here on Saturday, the law minister said the government was committed to provide speedy and free justice at the doorstep of the people for which a comprehensive package of amendments to various laws was being finalized.

He pointed out that the proposals and recommendations had been invited from bar associations, professionals and renowned legal experts of the country so that a solid and people-friendly legal process could be started by replacing the centuries old set up.

He said the government was also contemplating to reduce the burden of higher and superior courts by delegating a number of powers and legal authorities to courts at lower level. This step would not only be feasible for the judiciary but would also provide relief to justice-seekers at local level, he added.

Mr Zafar pointed out that special attention was also being paid for setting up separate courts for bails in criminal cases, formation of commissions of different nature and a number of other functions, which at present were being discharged by the civil courts simultaneously in the country.

He said special judicial officers would be appointed for the receipts of civil appeals and calling the respondents through urgent and speedy mail system. Complete cases with required and related documents would only be referred to the competent courts for trial so that the trend of delay in justice and prolonging of issues could be checked, he claimed.

The minister said the longstanding demand of lawyers and citizens of Faisalabad about the establishment of a high court bench was in active consideration and he would also play a positive role in this regard.

On the demand of the bar, he assured setting up of a separate lawyers colony in the city.

Earlier, DBA President Muhammad Hussain in his address of welcome highlighted the problems being faced by the lawyers community.

PPP MEETING: The Pakistan People's Party will fight for the restoration of 'true' democracy in the country. This was stated by Punjab PPP Secretary-General MPA Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan while speaking to a party meeting held here on Friday night.He said the Punjab Assembly had passed a resolution in favour of president in uniform, which was a stigma on the face of democratic forces and exposed the true faces of the so-called champions of democracy.

Mr Khan said the country had been passing through a critical juncture due to wrong policies of the rulers.

A number of local leaders and workers addressed the meeting and demanded immediate release of Asif Ali Zardari.

UNIFORM ISSUE: Provincial Minister for Communication and Works Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan has said that neither there is any legal ambiguity in Gen Pervez Musharraf's holding dual offices nor a deal has been struck with the Mutahida Majlis Amal over this issue.

Speaking at a news conference here on Saturday, the PML leader claimed that huge participation of people in the workers' convention of the PML in Faisalabad the other day clearly reflected the support enjoyed by Gen Pervez Musharraf.

To a question about the protest call of the MMA and the ARD over the uniform issue, he said that opposition parties had lost popularity.

To another question, the minister said a gigantic package for the uplift and modernization of road network in the province would be unfolded soon.