CM lauds free legal aid for needy prisoners

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has lauded the home department for starting free legal aid in jails across the province for prisoners who cannot afford lawyers.

"Poor prisoners who cannot afford lawyers to defend their cases in courts will get free legal aid," she said.

She added, "Now no poor prisoner in Punjab will be deprived of the facility of a lawyer." She directed the authorities concerned to form Free Legal Aid Committees in all 43 jails of the province in collaboration with the Punjab Bar Council and district bar associations."

The chief minister said, "Eligible prisoners will apply to their respective jail superintendents who will refer these applications to lawyers."

A total of 447 lawyers have been included in Free Legal Aid Committees across Punjab. They include 45 lawyers in Lahore division, 90 in Gujranwala, 70 in Rawalpindi, 47 in Faisalabad, 45 in Multan, 24 in Sargodha, 55 in Bahawalpur, 55 in Sahiwal and 16 in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also directed the authorities concerned to fix minimum monthly installments in the e-bike project to facilitate the parents of the students. E-bike battery insurance and warranty are also given in the scheme.

The CM said Punjab also wants to move to electric transport like the rest of the world. She said the condition of parental guarantee has been waived for the students who don't have parents. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "Solarised charging stations will be established in colleges and universities for the e-bikes. Along with the bikes, helmet and kite protection rods will also be given."