LAHORE, Nov 29: Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood on Saturday handed over a Rs125 million grant to the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA).

The cheque was given to bar office-bearers in a ceremony at the Karachi Shuhada Hall under Bar Associations funds. A sum of Rs10 million will be fixed in the bar’s account while the remaining amount will be handed over in cash.

Speaking on the occasion, Rana Sanaullah said the funds were the basic right of bar associations and the Punjab government was evolving a mechanism for smooth provision of such funds to the bars.

Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood said the government intended to reform the judiciary for provision of speedy justice to the masses and for the purpose it had enhanced the judges’ salaries at subordinate courts. He said being a former secretary of LHCBA, he wanted to facilitate lawyers’ community at all levels. LHCBA President Anwar Kamal and Secretary Rana Asadullah thanked the Punjab government for the release of grant.

They said the grant had been withheld for the last eight years during Musharraf's dictatorial regime. They urged the government to develop a system for smooth and timely release of funds to all bar associations of the province.