Access to Justice can foster unity and promote equality among all Pakistanis Justice Syed Anwar

The Legal Aid and Justice Authority, the European Union and UNDP hold a consultative workshop to enhance access to legal aid in Pakistan,

Islamabasd_Legal Aid and Access to Justice can play an effective role in fostering unity and promoting
equality among all Pakistanis, this was stated by Dr. Syed Mohammed Anwar, Justice Federal
Shariat Court, while addressing participants at the Legal Aid and Justice Authority (LAJA)
Strategic Planning workshop in Islamabad that was supported by UNDP, UN Women and
UNODC and European Union. He expressed his support for expanding the cause of LAJA,
however suggested that it shall begin by focusing on a few districts and then broaden its
scope. He believed that the authority’s name should be changed to “Legal Aid and Access to
Justice Commission.” He highlighted that terms like vulnerable and marginalised can cause
social divisions therefore we should exercise caution when using them.
Ms. Mehnaz Aziz, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Justice, emphasized the
importance of defining vulnerable segments, arguing that women and children should be
treated as a single group because policy decisions affecting one can affect the other. Ms.
Mehnaz offered her support in resolving LAJA issues that are pending with the Ministry of
Finance and other departments. She stated that the Rizwana torture case should be used as
a test case by LAJA.
The primary goal of the two days national consultative workshop was to develop a Five-Year
Strategic Plan for LAJA. Senior officials from various government departments attended the
workshop and helped identify challenges, opportunities, and strategic interventions to help
LAJA improve access to justice for all, particularly women, children, and marginalised groups;
raise awareness about laws, rights, and available legal aid/legal support mechanisms in
Pakistan; strengthen pro bono legal support; and reinforce coordination and collaboration.
Participants and speakers were confident that the proceedings would make a significant
contribution to the establishment of an inclusive access to justice system in Pakistan that
would meet the needs of all, particularly women, children, and marginalised groups. A broad
political consensus and collaborative approach at both the federal and provincial levels are
required to find long-term and inclusive solutions to increase access to justice and legal aid,
particularly for the most vulnerable groups.
Shafique Chaudhry, Executive Director of the Parliamentarians Commission on Human Rights
(PCHR), presented a 5-year strategic plan for LAJA based on the recommendations of the
participants. This strategic plan will assist LAJA and its partners in improving coordination and
streamlining their human, technical, and financial resources. Mr. Raheem Awan, Director
General of LAJA, discussed the contributions that LAJA has made thus far and shared that
despite the resource constraints, LAJA is diligently striving to facilitate easy access to justice
and to achieve its mandate. He said that Laja will continue to expand its services if the
government provides the necessary support. With their backing, LAJA can broaden its reach
and empower more individuals to access their fundamental rights seamlessly.
Amir Zulfiqar, Inspector General of Police, and Kamila, Ciatlin Chittenden of UNDP and Ms.
Kamilla, also spoke at the event. Mr. Amir Zulfiqar, emphasised the disparity between those
who can afford expensive solicitors when accused with FIRs and those who cannot. He said
that vulnerable women, transgender people, children, and all disadvantaged members of
society should be made part of such discussions. UNDP Pakistan’s representatives thanked
government officials, stakeholders, and all supporting teams, including UN Women and
UNODC for their support for making workshop a success.