Lanjar wants health cards for lawyers like those of police

Sindh Home and Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar on Wednesday handed over cheques of relief funds to various bar councils and associations in a ceremony at the provincial assembly.

Lanjar said in his address that no compromise would be made on the welfare of the legal community, adding that the provincial government is prioritising all serious measures in this regard at all levels.

He said a draft of workable and comprehensive recommendations regarding issues like health cards should be prepared as soon as possible and sent for review so that the government can verify and approve them. The government wants to ensure the legal community’s welfare, but a comprehensive action plan is essential for it, he added.

He also said the government has allocated Rs2 million as health funds for the Sindh police. “My wish is that similar health cards be issued for lawyers on the model of the Sindh police’s so that like the Sindh police, the legal community can continue their professional activities without worrying about health and treatment.”

Advocacy is a sacred profession, and its respect and development are the priority of the government, he added. “We need to take the lawyers forward with a strategy that has far-reaching, fruitful results.”

Lanjar stressed that he stands with poor lawyers, and would continue to help them. “However, I request the bar councils and associations to identify such lawyers who are in real need of financial assistance and welfare.”

On the occasion, besides giving grant cheques to three office-bearers of the Sindh Bar Council, a grant of Rs100,000 was given to the high court bar associations of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas.

Separate grant cheques were also given to the bar councils of all the districts and Talukas of the province. Grants were also given to the office-bearers and members of all the district bar councils and associations.

Earlier, a ceremony was held at the PA to issue job letters to those appointed as assistant district public prosecutors and assistant prosecutors general at provincial level.