Lawyers defenders of democracy, rule of law: Fawad

Announces government is considering providing health cards to the lawyers’ community

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain lauded on Friday the lawyers’ fraternity, saying their productive role in consolidating the rule of law and establishing the supremacy of the constitution was a historical fact.

Speaking to a delegation of District Bar Council Jhelum here, the minister said lawyers were defenders of democracy, human rights and constitution.

Briefing the lawyers on the National Accountability Second Amendment Ordinance 2021, Fawad said the ordinance was under Article 89 of the constitution, adding that the amendments stipulate that accountability courts be constituted with the consultation of the president and chief justice of Pakistan.

The powers of the prosecutor general have been enhanced in the ordinance and the power of bail will now be vested in the lower courts, Fawad added.

Reacting to the opposition’s criticism of the ordinance, he asserted that a major chunk of the amendments was included in the NAB ordinance in line with their proposals.

“The government is well aware of the problems of the legal community,” Fawad said, adding that new chambers would be set up for District Bar Jhelum. He said young lawyers would be given loans under the Kamyab Jawan program for the construction of chambers.

He announced that the government was also considering providing health cards to the lawyers’ community.

Sharing details of development projects in Jhelum, Fawad said a modern amusement park will be set up near Jhelum River and informed that the dualisation of 126km Lillah-Pind Dadan Khan-Jhelum road costing Rs16 billion would usher in a “new era of development” in the area.