The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) on Saturday organised an orientation/consultation workshop on the Access to Justice Development Fund (AJDF) at a local hotel here to introduce AJDF to a range of stakeholders of the law and justice sector.
The Chief Justice Peshawar High Court Justice Tariq Pervez presided over the workshop. Participants of the workshop came from different fields of law and justice sector including Honourable Judges of the High Court, academics, members of bar, media and representatives of the civil society organisations working in the area of legal empowerment.
The basic purpose of the workshop was to promote understanding, visibility and ownership of AJDF and inform about the way funds are allocated and utilised to support initiatives concerning legal/judicial research, strengthening of subordinate courts and legal empowerment of vulnerable groups.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Justice, said that there was limited understanding amongst stakeholders in NWFP about the nature, objectives, procedures, eligibility criteria and operational requirements of AJDF.
The Chief Justice said that AJDF was uniquely placed to address historic under-resourcing facing the judiciary. He also appreciated the vision and rationale of creating extra budgetary support for the judiciary, which had happened for the first time in the judicial history.
It is indeed commendable that an independent source of finances had been provided under AJDF to meet the cost of reforms in the law and justice sector on a sustained basis.
The Chief Justice further mentioned that in the country the system of administration of justice was best with myriad problems and one of the core issues had been the chronic under-resourcing of judiciary, which produced debilitating effect on the quality of justice. Not only the functionality of the courts stood weakened but financial constraints also had its impact on the way litigants approached and demanded justice from the court system.
Thus, if anything, this lack of resources ultimately had telling effects on the system of administration of justice and its resultant impact on citizens ability to enjoy equitable, fair and quick access to justice.
Chief Justice also opined that LJCP was working is working hard to fulfil its obligations towards complete operationalisation of AJDF particularly in respect of generating income proceeds from investment and further allocation and disbursements of share of each sub funds.
"I appreciate LJCP efforts to organise similar awareness raising events in other provincial capitals where a large number of participants representing Honourable Judges of High Courts, subordinate courts, senior advocates, scholars, researchers, representatives of bar, civil society activists and media attended the workshop. I hope the Peshawar workshop on AJDF will also be a success in terms of explaining to those interested in accessing funds for undertaking of reforms in the identified reform areas of law and justice sector", he added.
While giving an overview of the AJDF's purpose, justification and operational procedures, Malik Muhammad Iqbal, Joint Secretary, LJCP said that the workshop was being held with a view to sensitise participants about AJDF particularly introducing civil society interested in the justice sector reforms to the LJCP and to mobilise justice sector stakeholders for sustained and constructive engagement in a purposeful discussion on AJDF processes and activities.
At the end of the workshop the participants were organised into a group to engage in an interactive discussion in relation to various aspects of the Fund. They presented many suggestions and recommendations in order to make AJDF operations more accessible, efficient, accountable and transparent.