LAHORE: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar has stated that the 28th Constitutional Amendment will not be introduced in haste. Addressing the inauguration of the Lawyers Education Academy at the Punjab Bar Council and a certificate distribution ceremony for successful participants of the Bar Vocational Course, he emphasized that whenever the amendment is introduced, it will only follow broad consultation.
Legal Fraternity Support for Previous Amendments
Tarar noted that the legal fraternity, including the Supreme Court Bar Association and other bar councils, had supported the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments. He highlighted the importance of consensus in constitutional matters.
Judicial Reforms: Interviews for High Court Judges
On judicial reforms, Tarar said a seven-member committee had 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. Questioning why high court judges should not undergo interviews when civil judges and additional sessions judges are required to pass examinations, the minister asserted that judicial appointments must be based strictly on merit.
Annual Performance Evaluation of Judges
Tarar added 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 judges' performance 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.
Health Insurance Policy for Lawyers
The minister said work is underway on introducing a comprehensive health insurance policy for lawyers and their families. The federal and Punjab governments are extending full support to the welfare of the legal fraternity. Tarar explained that lawyers would be provided treatment for cancer, kidney, liver, and heart diseases at both public and private hospitals under the proposed health scheme.
Grants and Financial Support
Tarar announced that the Punjab government had released Rs1.35 billion in grants for bar associations and an additional Rs20 million for the Bar Vocational Course. He described the establishment of the Directorate of Legal Education at the Pakistan Bar Council as a major reform aimed at modernising legal education.
Sacred Responsibility of Legal Profession
The minister urged lawyers to strengthen their institutions and resolve disputes through institutional forums, calling the legal profession a sacred responsibility.
Punjab Bar Council Announcements
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 will 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 no compromise on the rights and welfare of lawyers.
Inauguration and Certificate Distribution
Earlier, the federal law minister inaugurated the Lawyers Education Academy and later distributed certificates among successful participants of the Bar Vocational Course. 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.
