Punjab to provide free legal assistance in criminal cases

• Punjab Public Defender Service will be established
• A citizen can request the court to provide a public lawyer
• CM Punjab will nominate chief public defender

LAHORE: Government of Punjab has decided to provide free legal assistance to underprivileged citizens in criminal cases.

In this regard, an autonomous Punjab Public Defender Service will be established on the directives of Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi. The chief minister has already announced to restore and fully implement the Punjab Public Defender Act 2007 without delay.

Punjab Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs announced a meeting of the Standing Committee on Law. Secretary Law Punjab Akhtar Javed attended the meeting and briefed the minister on the draft legislation.

The law minister said Punjab will be the first province to provide equal legal assistance to all citizens. He said a citizen who cannot afford to appoint an attorney should request the relevant court and the presiding judge will order Punjab Defender Service to provide lawyers.

Raja Basharat said prison inmates will be able to legal services through the jail superintendent. He said low-income citizens will not have to worry about acquiring the services of lawyers in criminal cases.

He said those who take advantage of the facility will be punished. He instructed the law secretary to complete the draft legislation and present it before the provincial cabinet.

The law secretary said the chief public defender will be nominated by the Chief Minister Punjab. He said a public defender will also be appointed at divisional level.

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