Law minister doles out Rs15.6m to Punjab Bar
Federal Law Minister Babar Awan on Monday doled out Rs15.6 million to the Punjab Bar Council as grants-in-aid.
Federal Law Minister Babar Awan on Monday doled out Rs15.6 million to the Punjab Bar Council as grants-in-aid, demanding of them to “remain united in this time of trial”.
“By giving you the money, I am only fulfilling my duty. Let no conspiracy divide you. Your unity is necessary for a stronger Pakistan,” Dr Awan said while addressing the lawyers.
He said: “Lawyers are a volunteer legal, democratic and constitutional force and I respect them”, adding that the lawyers are the hub of power.
He said he had preferred to meet the lawyers, despite being advised by President Asif Ali Zardari and his personal physician to rest. He said he would go anywhere to meet lawyers “even if I have to use a horse-carriage”.
“I cannot stay away from you…I am committed to your well-being.”
Federal Law Secretary Masood Chishti, Senator Kazim Khan, provincial bar council’s vice-chairman Mumtaz Mustafa and chairman of its executive committee Rana Akram also attended the meeting.
The law minister called for initiating residential colonies for lawyers and said that lawyers should be provided with better health facilities.
According to him, lawyers, like journalists, are “the most deprived community”.
He said he knows he would be criticised, but he was only respecting the lawyer representatives’ mandate by giving them grants regardless of their party affiliations.
Dr Awan announced Rs1 million grant for Punjab Bar Council’s hostel, Rs10.25 million for the bar, Rs1.5 million for bar employees, Rs500,000 for bar secretary Akbar Bhatti, Rs50,000 each for Khawaja Jahangir and Malik Shahid. Earlier, Dr Awan inaugurated the bar council’s hostels.
Mumtaz Mustafa and Rana Akram thanked the minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2010.
“By giving you the money, I am only fulfilling my duty. Let no conspiracy divide you. Your unity is necessary for a stronger Pakistan,” Dr Awan said while addressing the lawyers.
He said: “Lawyers are a volunteer legal, democratic and constitutional force and I respect them”, adding that the lawyers are the hub of power.
He said he had preferred to meet the lawyers, despite being advised by President Asif Ali Zardari and his personal physician to rest. He said he would go anywhere to meet lawyers “even if I have to use a horse-carriage”.
“I cannot stay away from you…I am committed to your well-being.”
Federal Law Secretary Masood Chishti, Senator Kazim Khan, provincial bar council’s vice-chairman Mumtaz Mustafa and chairman of its executive committee Rana Akram also attended the meeting.
The law minister called for initiating residential colonies for lawyers and said that lawyers should be provided with better health facilities.
According to him, lawyers, like journalists, are “the most deprived community”.
He said he knows he would be criticised, but he was only respecting the lawyer representatives’ mandate by giving them grants regardless of their party affiliations.
Dr Awan announced Rs1 million grant for Punjab Bar Council’s hostel, Rs10.25 million for the bar, Rs1.5 million for bar employees, Rs500,000 for bar secretary Akbar Bhatti, Rs50,000 each for Khawaja Jahangir and Malik Shahid. Earlier, Dr Awan inaugurated the bar council’s hostels.
Mumtaz Mustafa and Rana Akram thanked the minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2010.