Maryam wants free legal aid for poor prisoners

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed the Home Department to provide free legal aid to poor prisoners.

“Poor prisoners who cannot afford lawyers to defend their cases in courts will get free legal aid,” she said while lauding the Punjab Home Department for starting a remarkable initiative to help needy prisoners by providing them with free legal aid in jails across Punjab. She said: “Now no poor prisoner in Punjab will be deprived of the facility of lawyer.” She directed the authorities concerned to form free legal aid committees in all 43 jails of Punjab in collaboration with the Punjab Bar Council and district bar associations.

The chief minister said: “Eligible prisoners will apply to jail superintendents who will refer their applications to lawyers. A total of 447 lawyers have been included in Free Legal Aid Committees across Punjab. As many as 45 lawyers in Lahore Division, 90 in Gujranwala Division, 70 in Rawalpindi Division, 47 in Faisalabad Division, 45 in Multan Division, 24 in Sargodha Division, 55 in Bahawalpur Division, 55 in Sahiwal Division and 16 in DG Khan Division are included in Free Legal Aid Committees.”

While highlighting the provision of e-bikes and petrol bikes to students across Punjab under the Chief Minister’s Youth Initiative, the chief minister said Punjab will always take lead in providing facilities to students like e-bikes. “Saving time and ease of travel will lead to improvement in academic performance of students.” She directed authorities to fix minimum monthly installment in the e-bike project to facilitate the parents of students.

“E-bike battery insurance and warranty are also given to students. Punjab also wants to move to electric transport like in the world. The condition of parental guarantee has been waived off for students who are deprived of the shadow of their parents. Solarized charging stations will be established in colleges and universities for charging e-bikes. Along with bikes, helmet and kite protection rods will also be given. E-bikes will reduce smog and environmental pollution.”