Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said that the government expects from lawyers' organisations that they would not allow political parties to use their platform or infiltrate into their ranks. He was addressing lawyers of various districts here on Monday, an official said.
Provincial Minister for Law and Local Government Muhammad Basharat Raja was also present on the occasion. The CM said the present government believed in strengthening the lawyers' bodies and already provided huge funds to bar councils at tehsil, district and provincial levels irrespective of their political affiliation, so that they could play their due role in dispensation of justice.
"The reference in Supreme Judicial Council is a constitutional issue, therefore, lawyers should keep in view the demands of law and constitution, while expressing their point of view," he added.
According to him, lawyers have played a commendable role in upholding law and provision of justice to the masses. Legal community has made invaluable contribution since the creation of Pakistan to various stages of its development and progress. The present government has provided abundant funds to legal community and bar councils for the purpose of setting up of libraries and provision of other facilities to the lawyers.
He said that the government is also giving practical shape to a number of projects for the benefit of lawyers including setting up of residential colonies. He expressed the hope that lawyers will continue to utilise all their energies for strengthening of democratic system as well as dispensation of justice.