LAHORE, July 4: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said here on Sunday that almost all lawyers in Gujrat were attending courts whereas some elements were claiming that they were on strike.

Certain elements were trying to divert the attention of lawyers from their professional affairs to seek their personal and political benefits which was regrettable, he said, while talking to a delegation of the Gujrat District Bar Association, which called on him here.

He said the government was giving extraordinary importance to the law sector and all institutions relating to the provision of justice to people. For the first time in the history of the country, resources had been provided for the construction of buildings for all district and tehsil bar associations, besides provision of libraries and other facilities to them on the directions of President Pervez Musharraf, he said.

The chief minister said steps were also being taken to develop residential colonies for lawyers in all districts and tehsils irrespective of their political affiliations.

He said the lawyers had always played a leading role in promoting democratic norms and strengthening the political institutions. He urged them to use their energies for the protection of the legal rights of the deprived people.

The delegation members said some elements were wrongfully claiming that the lawyers were observing a strike in Gujrat. A list was presented to the chief minister showing that most of the Gujrat Bar Association members were appearing before local courts.