ISLAMABAD:
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Saturday urged chief justices of all high courts to ensure that the Access to Justice Development Fund (AJDF) was utilised for enhancing the district judiciary’s capacity and the convenience of litigants.
He was presiding over a meeting of the governing body of the Access to Justice Development Fund at the Supreme Court.
The chief justice observed that the establishment of the AJDF, which is managed by the Law & Justice Commission of Pakistan, ensures that the genuine requirements of the district judiciary are met and legal aid and assistance is made available to people who cannot pursue their rights in the court of law. The governing body approves projects of organisations, as well as individuals, for funding from the AJDF.
The chief justice further appreciated the role of the LJCP in the promotion of legal awareness, particularly of vulnerable groups, by sponsoring projects of legal empowerment and provision of legal aid under the AJDF.
Besides approving accounts of the AJDF for the financial year 2010-11, the governing body also approved the amount recommended for the District Legal Empowerment Committees.
The governing body also approved the launch of the sixth phase of the AJDF for inviting project proposals from individuals, researchers, scholars, bar councils and associations, law colleges and research institutes across the country for release of funds from the allocated windows.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2012.
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Can we know what is the salary of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, and the Chief of Army Staff including all the perks and privileges? Right to information is our fundamental right... correct?
With belt tightening in all government departments, Judiciary and Defense should be no exception. There is urgent need to reduce the inflated salaries and perks of under-performing overpaid officials in these departments who have time and again disappointed the constitution.