LHC forms body on lawyers’ financial aid

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan Thursday constituted a six-member committee to deliberate the mode of financial support to lawyers affected by the coronavirus lockdown.

Acting Advocate General of Punjab (AGP) Shan Gul will head the committee with bar representatives. Earlier, chief minister’s Principal Secretary Muhammad Saud made his appearance before the court following a previous order. Additional Attorney General Ishtiaq A Khan told the court that the federal law ministry was willing to extend financial support to the needy lawyers. He said the cabinet would take up the matter in next meeting. He said the law ministry considered an option of establishing a dedicated portal for registration of the lawyers and payment of support money to them under Prime Minister Ehsaas Programme. Pakistan Bar Council member Ahsan Bhoon told the court that an amount of Rs210 million had been lying with the federal government under the head of financial grant for bar councils and associations. He said the grant money could be distributed among the lawyers after making a certain criteria.

Chief Justice Khan directed the committee to furnish its recommendations on the mode of payment to needy lawyers by April 27. Lahore High Court Bar Association’s secretary Haroon Dugal had filed the petition pleading that lawyers had been suffering from acute financial crisis since the pandemic lockdown had been imposed limiting the movement and hearing of cases in courts. He said the government decided to support all people of all segments affected by the lockdown and earmarked funds for them. However, he said the government had not established any such fund for the lawyers who had no other option except practicing the law before courts.

He asked the court to order the government to provide financial support to the lawyers and establish a fund to this effect.