Know your rights: Lawyers offer free consultation at legal aid clinic

Residents discuss cases of domestic disputes, crime at open forum.

MATTA:

Residents of Kalakot village were offered free of charge consultation at a legal aid clinic set up on Thursday.

Organised by non-governmental organisations, the open forum brought together some of the best lawyers and experts to the village.

Slowly gathering courage, Sultana Bibi raised her voice at the seminar and said: “My husband forced me to go back to my parents’ house with one of our children. He does not even pay alimony.”



Sultana said she was married to a man her family knew. Four years back, her husband, who is a drug addict, sent the 28-year-old woman and their son to her parents’ house, warning her never to return. The 81 grammes of gold that was given by her parents on her wedding were also taken away by her husband. “He beats me when I try to go back,” Sultana ruefully added.

Many people complained about being harassed by the police. Farman Ali, a taxi driver, said he was arrested for driving a stolen car. “I brought it (the taxi) from a man in Mingora. I even have the documents,” Ali said.

He was taken into custody two weeks back by the Kalakot police. “When I showed them the documents they pressured me not to register an FIR against the person who sold me the stolen car,” he narrated. Ali said police from other stations also asked him to stay silent. He even tried to contact the SHO, but says he was unable to.

Some villagers also complained about the absence of the union council secretary and said they can never get certificates and documents made in time.

“I went to the National Database and Regulation Authority office to get a national identity card for my niece and they told me to make a birth certificate for her first. Two months have passed since I have been going to the union council office but the secretary is never there,” another villager, Abdul Rashid said, adding he also visited the authorities but they pay no heed.

After individually hearing the cases, lawyers at the forum advised complainants and promised proceedings in some cases. “Consultation and litigation advice was given to those in need. Such sessions are held to educate people about their rights and possible action in case of a crime,” legal expert Iqbal Sarwar said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2013.