PESHAWAR, June 23: District and sessions judge for Peshawar Miftahuddin Khan has said the Bench-Bar Liaison Committees (BBLCs) have not only contributed towards quick disposal of cases but also played a role in strengthening the judiciary.

He was speaking at a workshop on capacity building of the Bench-Bar Liaison Committees, held on Friday under the aegis of the Access to Justice Programme. The workshop was attended by district and sessions judges, judicial magistrates, law officers, presidents of various district bar associations and lawyers.

In his welcome speech, Mr Khan said the establishment of the BBLCs was aimed at addressing the problem of delay in disposal of cases. The main objectives of the committees formed under the Access to Justice Programme were: to promote respect of law among litigants; persuade lawyers to accept only a limited number of cases; ensure regular attendance of courts; and maintenance of a healthy atmosphere between the bench and bar. “A strong bench and bar is a prerequisite for a strong and independent institution of judiciary.”

He said the workshop was aimed at exchanging views on capacity building of the BBLCs in the light of the participants’ experiences during various meetings held at the district level. “The objective is to provide quick and inexpensive justice to people.”

District and sessions judge for Kohat Shah Jehan Khan and other judicial officers and lawyers presented their papers at the workshop.—APP