K-P activates legal aid desks for destitute, women prisoners

Free legal assistance extended province-wide to ensure fair trial rights

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has established Legal Aid Desk Committees across the province to provide free legal assistance to destitute and women prisoners facing criminal cases in various jails.

According to Director General Prosecution Rafiq Mohmand, the committees became operational from July 1. They will review prisoners' cases and arrange suitable lawyers so that inmates are not deprived of their legal rights due to inability to pay fees.

Data on eligible prisoners is currently being collected. Applications for free legal aid can be submitted at District Public Prosecution (DPP) offices, jail superintendent offices, and the offices of deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners.

Mohmand said the committees had previously remained inactive in district public prosecutor offices across all districts. As a result, many poor prisoners and women were unable to properly defend their cases in court. The new step has been taken to address this gap.