29/03/2023
The Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act, 2023 passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan on 29 March 2023.
It is indeed a great achievement for the Legal fraternity of Pakistan.
The Important Points of the Act are as Follows:
Offences and Punishments
Whoever commits or abets the
commission of act of violence against an advocate shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or fine which may extend to hundred thousand rupees or with both.
Investigation:
Any offence committed by an Advocate shall be investigated by the police officer not below the rank of an Inspector.
The investigation shall be completed within a period of fourteen days from the day of registration of the case.
Establishment of Court:
Special Courts shall be established for the trial of offences committed by an advocate.
Trial:
The Court upon taking cognizance of a case under this Act, shall decide the case expeditiously, preferable within six months.
Privileged Communication:
No person, public servant or any authority shall have the power to arrest, detain, investigate any advocate under any law for the time being in force to obtain any document, material or any information from such advocate pertaining
to his professional duties; and the violation of this shall be deemed as act of violence.
Legal Advisory:
Every incorporated company having more than
twenty million paid up capital, autonomous body, corporation or statutory
authority shall have to engage at least one practicing advocate as legal advisor
Provision of health facilities:
The Government shall notify in relation to all the Government, and Semi Government hospitals, the right to every advocate, his Parents, spouse and dependent children for medical treatment at par with the gazetted Government officer, subject to presentation of their official cards and verification by the respective Bar Councils.
Financial Facilities:
All financial institutions shall extend to the advocates the provision of financial facilities without discrimination in any manner whatsoever, and in case of any violation, on the complaint of aggrieved advocate, the concerned authority shall initiate appropriate action.
Shuhada Package:
An Advocate who is the victim of any act of terrorism or other aggression while performing his professional duty, whose assailants are unknown, his family shall be entitled to the Shuhada package as is admissible to gazetted officers in BPS-18 of the Government.
