PESHAWAR: Special assistant to the chief minister on minority affairs, Wazir Zada, has emphasised the significance of access to justice for the marginalised groups, especially women and minorities.

He was speaking at a provincial consultative conference which was organised by Oxfam in Pakistan in collaboration with Lasoona Society for Human and Natural Resource Development on improving the rule of law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The conference convened policymakers, MPAs, academia, justice providers and media to review the challenges women, minorities and marginalised communities face in accessing justice in the province.

The special assistant said that the rule of law was the priority of the government. He appreciated the contribution of civil society in promoting rule of law at the community level and assured government support in improving citizens’ access to formal justice system.

Khyber Law College principal Prof Dr Inayat Ullah Khan, KP Commission on the Status of Women chairperson Dr Riffat Sardar, Deputy Inspector General of Police, KP, Feroz Khan, Ombudsperson KP Rakhshanda Naz, President Peshawar Bar Association Amjid Ali Marwat and minority MPA Wilson Wazir also attended the conference.

Mr Wazir Zada stressed that the civil society should play a key role in the provincial government’s contribution to improve the rule of law.

Other key participants also spoke on the subject and highlighted the supremacy of law in Pakistan.

Oxfam in Pakistan is implementing its project, “Improved Access to Fair, Legitimate and Effective Justice in Pakistan’’, with Lasoona in Charsadda and Nowshera districts.

The project focuses on citizens’ legal empowerment and strengthens confidence-building measures between citizens and formal justice institutions. Citizens from these two districts were also part of the conference. Speaking on the occasion, Lasoona executive director Azam Khan appreciated the significant contribution of justice providers who interacted with citizens at the union council level.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2022