The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday issued a written order on a petition seeking implementation of the Lawyers’ Protection and Welfare Act 2023, issuing notices to the respondents including the Ministry of Law.
A single-member bench of Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued the written order on the petition filed by Advocate Syed Mahfooz-ul-Hasan. The petitioner has approached the court under Article 199 of the Constitution for the enforcement of the Act.
According to the written order, the petitioner maintains that a comprehensive legal framework already exists for the protection and welfare of lawyers. However, despite multiple meetings of the Bar Council, the respondents have failed to implement the provisions of the Act.
The petitioner further argued that no operational guidelines, eligibility criteria, or mechanism for fund disbursement has been formulated under the Act so far. Due to the absence of these guidelines, the families of martyred lawyers are suffering from uncertainty and deprivation.
The petitioner also contended that no training programs have yet been launched for police officers, prosecutors, hospital administrations, and bank officials under the Act. Despite the enactment of the law, incidents of harassment, intimidation, and violence against lawyers continue unabated.
The court issued notices to the parties and sought para-wise comments and a report from the respondents, including the Ministry of Law, within two weeks.
Additionally, the court granted an exemption request filed in the miscellaneous application.
The hearing has been adjourned to a later date.