Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Saturday inaugurated the Lawyers Education Academy at the Punjab Bar Council, emphasizing the government's commitment to improving legal education, strengthening professional training for lawyers, and ensuring effective administration of justice. The event also featured a certificate distribution ceremony for successful participants of the Bar Vocational Course.
Health Insurance and Financial Support for Lawyers
Tarar announced that the government is working on a comprehensive health insurance policy for lawyers and their families. Under the proposed scheme, lawyers would receive treatment for cancer, kidney, liver, and heart diseases at both public and private hospitals. The federal and Punjab governments are extending full support to the welfare of the legal fraternity. The Punjab government has released Rs1.35 billion in grants for bar associations and announced an additional Rs20 million for the Bar Vocational Course. Additionally, a Rs570 million grant has been approved for small industrial estate infrastructure restoration.
Reforms in Legal Education and Judicial Appointments
The minister highlighted the establishment of the Directorate of Legal Education at the Pakistan Bar Council as a major reform aimed at modernizing legal education. He described the legal profession as a sacred responsibility and urged lawyers to strengthen their institutions and resolve disputes through institutional forums. On judicial reforms, Tarar said a seven-member committee has been constituted to ensure transparency and merit in the appointment of High Court judges. The committee will interview candidates and submit its recommendations to the Judicial Commission. He questioned why High Court judges should not undergo interviews when Civil Judges and Additional Sessions Judges are required to pass examinations, stressing that judicial appointments must be based strictly on merit.
Annual Evaluation of Judges
Tarar announced that the government is introducing, for the first time, a constitutional mechanism for the annual evaluation of judges' performance through a Judges Evaluation Committee. Under the proposed system, the committee will review the performance of judges at the end of each year. If a judge's performance is found unsatisfactory, the committee may send a reference to the Judicial Commission and recommend removal.
Constitutional Amendments and Bar Council Initiatives
Commenting on constitutional reforms, Tarar said the 28th Constitutional Amendment would not be introduced in haste. He stated that whenever the amendment is introduced, it will only be after broad consultation. He noted that the legal fraternity, including the Supreme Court Bar Association and other bar councils, had supported the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments. Punjab Bar Council Executive Committee Chairman Fakhar Hayat Awan said the Bar Vocational Course has been mandatory since 2018 and announced that the Punjab Bar Council would no longer issue licences without verification of law degrees by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). He also announced that the Bar's Benevolent Fund had been increased from Rs300,000 to Rs600,000, pledging that there would be no compromise on the rights and welfare of lawyers.
The ceremony was attended by Judicial Commission member Ahsan Bhoon, Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti, Punjab Bar Council Vice Chairman Khawaja Qaiser Butt, senior office-bearers of the Pakistan and Punjab Bar Councils, and a large number of lawyers.
