Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Barrister Masood Kausar, has said that the law and order situation both in the province and Fata is far better as compared to almost four years back and it will be further consolidated with accelerated pace.
Addressing the oath administering ceremony of the newly elected cabinet of the District Bar Association, Kohat as the chief guest at its premises on Monday, the Governor said, the role and contribution of lawyers community because of its active involvement in the process of dispensation of justice, protection of basic and democratic rights of the people and ensuring rule of law is of vital importance.
In fact, he said, the lawyer's community of the country has always remained in the fore-front, whenever situation warranted protecting rights of the people; restoration of constitution; strengthening of democratic norms and ensuring independent working of judiciary. Today, he added, democracy exists in the country, democratic institutions are functional and the state institutions are engaged in fulfilment of their responsibilities and the lawyer's community deserves appreciation for its credible role in making this possible.
Referring to the developments emerging in wake of constitutional amendments of the recent past, the Governor said devolution of administrative, financial and political powers under the relevant laws from centre to the provinces have been resulting in further strengthening of the federating units which will have far reaching effects in ensuring better future for the federation. In fact, he said, strengthening of democratic norms, development of the nation and consolidation of the respective institutions is a long process and the lawyer's community should also be conscious of their responsibilities which they have to fulfil to fully achieve the noble objectives for which they have been struggling since long in this connection.
Referring to the demands presented in the address of welcome, the Governor said, the Kohat Division is lucky for significantly sharing towards natural gas production at the national level. The oil production in the area, he added, has already crossed the required volume of daily requirements for establishment of an oil refinery and efforts are afoot to materialise the project.
The Governor said that the Kohat Medical Institute has already been affiliated with the Khyber Medical University while steps are underway to shift the affiliation of Kohat Institute of Science and Technology with the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, which, he remarked, are indeed the logical arrangements for future development of both the institutions.
As far as development of infrastructure facilities for the bar and the judicial system in Kohat is concerned, the Governor said, there is a need to chalk out a master plan for this purpose in line with the future requirements. He also assured to help the bar in the development of its central library. The Governor, however, announced a grant of Rs one million for the bar to meet its immediate requirements.
Earlier the Governor administered the oath to the newly elected office-bearers of the bar who besides, Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi Advocate also included, Sanobar Khan Advocate, Vice President, Samiullah Advocate, General Secretary and Haroon Khan Advocate, Joint Secretary. The ceremony was also attended by the senior officials of the divisional as well as the district administration of Kohat besides a large number of lawyers and elites of the city.