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Thursday March 28, 2024

Killers of lawyers won’t escape punishment: CM

Orders inquiry into killings; says power, accountability interlinked; announces Rs50m as grant for SCBA

By our correspondents
May 26, 2015

LAHORE: Taking notice of the Daska incident, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the lawyers’ killers would not be spared and brought to justice at all costs. He ordered an impartial inquiry into the incident and an immediate report. He announced a grant of Rs50 million forSupreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).
The grant was announced when a delegation of SCBA, led by its President Fazal Haq Abbasi, called on Shahbaz Monday. The chief minister and the delegation strongly condemned the tragic incident in Daska and expressed grief over the death of president of Daska Bar Association and a lawyer.
Talking to the delegation, the chief minister said he was deeply grieved at the tragic incident in Daska, had taken immediate notice and ordered an impartial inquiry into the matter while the SHO concerned had been arrested.
He said there was no justification for direct firing on lawyers and the elements involved would not be able to escape punishment under the law and all demands of justice would be fulfilled. He said the lawyer community was playing a key role in the provision of prompt and inexpensive justice to the citizens and had rendered unprecedented sacrifices for the restoration of independent judiciary and strengthening of democracy in the country.
He said there was a need of improvement in thana and katchery culture, as it was directly linked with the masses. He said the Punjab government had taken solid measures for good governance and transparent utilisation of resources in the province. He said power and accountability were linked together.
He said the lawyer community had to play an active role for provision of prompt justice to the citizens by maintaining a balance between bar and bench. He directed secretary health to evolve a system in consultation with lawyers for the provision of medical facilities to the lawyer community in hospitals.
SCBA President Fazal Haq Abbasi said the chief minister was working with commitment and dedication for the welfare of the people. He said personal efforts of chief minister for implementation of Pakistan-China economic corridor were commendable. Those who called on the chief minister included SCBA Secretary Ch Muhammad Maqsood Ahmed, Vice-President Punjab Shah Abbas Mian, Additional Secretary Sanaullah Zahid, Finance Secretary Sheharyar Iqbal, Members Executive Punjab Badar Munir Malik, Fouzia Sultana Sheikh, Abdul Hassan Arif Agha, Babar Bilal, Members Executive Sindh Qazi Abdul Hameed Siddiqui, Muhammad Khalil Dogar, Anayatullah Morio and other office-bearers.