Sindh Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmed urged for bridging the gap between Bar and the government.
He was addressing an eight-member delegation of Karachi Bar Association (KBA), which called on him at his office here on Thursday afternoon to receive cheque of grant for the KBA.
The minister handed over the cheque amounting to rupees 0.5 million to Mehmood-ul-Hasan, President of KBA and Treasurer Tasleem Fatima.
Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmed later in an informal exchange of view emphasised that the distance between bar and the government needs to be bridged.
"The government acknowledges the principled stand taken by the KBA on different issues and also understands their point of view well but at the same time, lawyers shall act moderately," he said.
"The efforts by lawyers towards establishment of Pakistan are a part of our history and legal fraternity shall continue to play that role now for strengthening Pakistan," said the minister.
"The Bars must be cautious enough not to be swayed by any political party or interest group," he said, adding, "the present assemblies are called 'Graduate Assemblies' but number of advocates in the elected houses is much less as political parties neglected lawyers."
He said that only the Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) gave due share of tickets to advocates. Out of 13 PML (F) MPAs, five or six are lawyers, said the law minister.
Citing example of Bahawalpur Bar Association, the minister said that enormous funds were pooled by that Bar most of which come from its own resources, including rent of shops and other facilities set up at the premises.
Syed Mehmudul Hasan, President of Karachi Bar, on the occasion said: "The KBA cannot be hijacked by any political party." He also expressed gratitude for the grant by the Sindh government.
Javed Memon, General Secretary of KBA, said that the provincial governor and the chief minister were invited by the KBA for the first time in its history and "the present body believes in having good relations with the government without compromising on principles".
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