According to World Justice project Rule of Law Index 2023 Pakistan ranked 129 out of 142 countries globally in civil justice, 99 out of 142 globally in criminal justice. This ranking is becoming worse every year, which creates an alarming situation for access to justice.
The legal document Constitution of Pakistan having Article 4 (right of individuals to be dealt in accordance with law) and Article 10-A (right to fair trial) gives conformity to citizens for access to justice. But, a very essential thing to get access to justice is through the legal aid system.
In Pakistan, citizens have little bit familiarity with basic laws due to lack of legal aid to them. In order to overcome this situation, the Pakistan Bar council under the free legal aid rules 1999 took initiative with the mandate to provide legal aid and create awareness about legal rights. According to which, committees formed at district and provincial level. However, these committees faced lack of support to perform their assigned roles. While comparing with Asian countries the Bangladesh legal aid office was established in 2015, in India national legal aid services authorities act 1987, in Sri Lanka, the legal aid act 1978 all these deliver legal guidance to its people with full support of legal authorities.
While in Pakistan, The concerned Authorities of the ministry of law need to realize their responsibilities and take steps to make training, legal education and sustainable funding schemes for members of committees formed under free legal aid rule 1999. Also, eminent lawyers and law students should pay a contribution for making legal aid beneficial for people so they get access to justice.
Last but not least, in the era of digitalization some online platforms are required to meet the target of giving legal aid to common people. To be honest Pakistan law students association with the passion and insurmountable courage for the legal field will give its best to spread legal aid to the common masses by keeping in view famous maxim IGNORANTIA JURIS NON EXCUSANT (“ignorance of law is not an excuse”)
In a nutshell, an effective legal aid system will help for access to justice and build the trust of millions of poor people within the justice sector. More importantly it will be achieved if these ideas are implemented. One of the famous sayings of Guy kawasaki is “Ideas are easy, implementation is hard”.
By: Muhammad Aoun
We need more people like you who are willing to contribute in the society with their expertise and knowledge. Surely, it is rewarding. Poor people suffer from injustice and lack of their legal rights due to unawareness and the weak judicial system.
May Allah strengthen you.