LAHORE, Jan 6: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi announced on Friday a grant of Rs50 million for the Supreme Court Bar Association, urging the lawyer community to play its role in providing social justice to the deprived classes. He announced the grant when a delegation of the association called on him here. The delegation was led by the SCBA president, Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum (retired).

The chief minister said the government had provided Rs1 million to every district bar association and Rs300,000 to every tehsil bar association to help establish libraries for lawyers and give them other facilities.

It was developing the legal sector and institutions relating to the dispensation of justice to people on a priority, he said.

The programme about the welfare of lawyers, he said, was being implemented without considering their political affiliations because they were playing an important role in the dispensation of justice and strengthening of democracy.

He said importance was being given to the proposals of lawyers regarding the socio-economic reforms and legislation. People were facing problems because of the complicated legal system in the country and it was, therefore, necessary for the lawyers to help them get social justice.

Pervaiz Elahi said like government servants, free medical cover was being given to lawyers in the public hospitals in the province. Residential colonies for them were also being established.

Earlier, the chief minister said a separate prosecution department had been established in the province, which would pursue cases in courts, ensuring provision of justice to the affected people and punishment of the criminals. Professional prosecutors were being recruited for pursuing the cases in courts and they would function freely— Staff Reporter