Balochistan lawyers given Rs 72m package

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: Federal Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Senator, Dr Babar Awan in a ceremony held here on Saturday gave away cheques to Balochistan Lawyers containing package of Rs 72 million.

Earlier, soon after his arrival at Quetta Airport, he said that Senate of Pakistan had passed Islamabad High Court Bill, which now would be tabled in the National Assembly on 3rd June, adding budget session of the legislature would be summoned on 5th June.

Later, addressing at a ceremony held at a local hotel and hosted by Peoples Lawyers Forum and other lawyers associations, he announced to transfer Rs 72 million to the bank accounts of various bar associations of Balochistan.

Elaborating the details, he said each Rs 05 million from the Rs 72 million would be given to Balochistan Bar Council, Balochistan High Court Bar Association, Balochistan Bar Association, Balochistan Young Lawyers Bar Association, and Balochistan Women Bar Association. He maintained that every district bar association of total 32 of the province would get Rs 01 million respectively.

He noted that after budget 2010-11 which he said would be tabled in the National Assembly in next month, more funds would be allocated to digitalize all district bar association of Balochistan.

Dr Awan recalled that earlier, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had given away Rs 02 million to Balochistan bar associations. He also paid tributes to Yahya Bakhtiar for donating funds for setting up library of Balochistan Bar Association. He said the government was working on agenda to resolve grievances and problems of downtrodden people of Balochistan. He maintained the democracy was only solution to Balochistan issues, adding incumbent government would take all out measures to restore order in Balochistan.

He said Pakistan is not only a country of feudal lords and elite class but a country of 170 million people. He said Balochistan was rich of natural resources adding it had right to get more priority in allocation of development funds. He said the government, the Pakistan Peoples Party and other democratic forces wanted resolution of Balochistan issue. He added that as a lawyer, he would continue efforts to resolve problems faced by lawyer fraternity.

To a question, he said he would personally approach the provincial government and Finance Ministry for releasing funds to complete remaining work of under construction premises of Balochistan High Court Sibi and Zhob Circuits. The Minister pledged the government would remain persist on policy of reconciliation. He recalled that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had introduced that policy, adding her followers would continue getting implementation of her vision.

Dr Awan highlighted that in dictator era, people were disappointed on future of Pakistan, adding but now democratic government had restored their confidence. He said Pakistan was neither a failed state nor it needs a warship for resolution of its issues.

He was accorded a warm welcome by Zahoor Shahwani and Kamran Murtaza Advocates of Balochistan Bar Council, Hadi Shakeel Advocate of Balochistan High Court Bar Association, Malik Mamtaz Mehfooz Advocate of Peoples Lawyers Forum, presidents of 32 district bar associations and a large number of other lawyers.