PESHAWAR: Four legal aid desks would be established in Swabi district manned by eight lawyers including four women advocates to provide legal counseling to the citizens seeking legal advice.

These legal aid desks would be established under the ‘improving access to justice through streamlining legal aid’ project, which was launched at a ceremony in Swabi on Thursday, according to a statement issued here on Saturday.

Centre of Excellence for Rural Development (CERD) in collaboration with the USAID Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programme organised the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Iqbal, the programme manager, informed the participants that legal aid clinics would be organised in 25 villages of 11 union councils of Swabi and Topi tehsils to create awareness among villagers about their legal rights, and resolving their minor problems on the spot, or referring them to the legal aid desks.

Mr Iqbal further said shows would be arranged on radio where legal experts would respond to people’s questions through lives calls.

Ahmad Ali Khan, district bar association Swabi president, Ameer Nawab Khan, district council member, and Mian Faheem, former member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bar council, were the notable speakers of the event.

The speakers called for provision of all legitimate rights to citizens guaranteed by the constitution and stressed the need for creation of proper awareness among the people to raise voice against injustices in the society.

They said the citizens were mostly voiceless due to lack of proper awareness regarding their legitimate rights. They said it was prime responsibility of every citizen to get awareness about their fundamental rights. They called upon all the stakeholders, especially the members of legal fraternity, to play proactive role in that regard.

The speakers emphasised that judiciary and lawyers should make vigorous efforts for provision of legal rights to citizens, particularly in Swabi district. The lawyers assured their cooperation to make the project a success.

Similarly, the participants showed their resolve to rebuild the lost trust of the masses in the formal justice system of the country. They also appreciated the efforts of CERD and USAID Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programme for launching the project to extend legal aid to needy people of the district.

Officers from government departments, civil society activists, local community members and lawyers participated in the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2015

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