PESHAWAR: The outgoing caretaker chief minister, retired Justice Arshad Hussain Shah, said here on Saturday that lawyers’ role was always pivotal in upholding rule of law and supremacy of Constitution in the country.

In his last official activity before the caretaker provincial cabinet was de-notified, Mr Arshad attended a general body meeting of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council wherein he said that lawyers rendered valuable sacrifices for the supremacy of Constitution in the country.

He informed the meeting about the decision of his cabinet of providing a grant of Rs50 million to KP Bar Council for establishment of a training academy and hostel. He handed over relevant documents to the office-bearers of the council.

The former chief minister said that he tried his best to fulfil the demands of bar council and as its demand of construction of a hostel and training academy for lawyers was genuine, therefore, his cabinet approved grant for the purpose.

KP Bar Council vice chairman Sadiq Ali Mohmand, its executive committee chairman Taimoor Ali shah, former vice chairman Ahmad Farooq Khattak, former executive committee chairman Syed Mubashir Shah and members of the council including Noor Alam Khan, Shahid Raza Malik and others welcomed the former chief minister. Peshawar High Court Bar Association president Tariq Khan Afridi also attended the meeting.

Mr Arshad stated that the responsibility of caretaker chief minister’s post was a sacred trust bestowed on him by Almighty Allah and he tried his best to perform his duty with honesty and dedication.

He added that they strived during their government to work for the betterment of people of the province.

He expressed the hope that the new government would also keep the interest of people supreme.

In the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between the representatives of KP Bar Council and Azad Kashmir Bar Council wherein it was agreed upon that lawyers from KP would be able to practice law in Azad Kashmir and vice versa.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2024