Free legal aid: Lawyers back to work after NGOs leave
Lawyers claimed that the NGOs were working illegally.
KARACHI:
After non-profit bodies offering inmates free legal assistance agreed to leave their offices in the prisons, Karachi’s lawyers went back to work after five Saturdays of protests against them.
The NGOs were offering inmates representation free of charge as a result of which lawyers were losing out on cases. The lawyers claimed that the NGOs were working illegally. The decision to call off the strike was taken on Friday after a meeting between Justice (retired) Nasir Aslam Zahid of the NGO and the managing committees of the Karachi, Malir and Sindh High Court bar associations.
The matter had not been resolved even after the SHC intervened. It was settled amicably eventually, however, as all the NGO offices inside the prisons agreed to be removed, said Dr Farogh Nasim, an instrumental figure in ending the squabble. He added that free legal assistance for the needy would not be affected and would never be opposed by the KBA.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2011.
After non-profit bodies offering inmates free legal assistance agreed to leave their offices in the prisons, Karachi’s lawyers went back to work after five Saturdays of protests against them.
The NGOs were offering inmates representation free of charge as a result of which lawyers were losing out on cases. The lawyers claimed that the NGOs were working illegally. The decision to call off the strike was taken on Friday after a meeting between Justice (retired) Nasir Aslam Zahid of the NGO and the managing committees of the Karachi, Malir and Sindh High Court bar associations.
The matter had not been resolved even after the SHC intervened. It was settled amicably eventually, however, as all the NGO offices inside the prisons agreed to be removed, said Dr Farogh Nasim, an instrumental figure in ending the squabble. He added that free legal assistance for the needy would not be affected and would never be opposed by the KBA.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2011.