TI Pakistan organises a seminar on its Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre

Transparency International-Pakistan has launched an Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre in March 2009. On 16 July, a seminar at the Avari Towers, in Karachi was organised. The seminar began with an introduction by the Executive Director, Mr Saad Rashid on the history of Transparency International Pakistan. He described TI-Pakistan's activities in curbing corruption in the country and why an Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre has been launched. He briefly described the objectives of the Centre.

The seminar was presided by Justice Salim Akhtar, Director General, Sindh Judicial Academy, Karachi. In his address he stressed the importance of the rule of law and accountability, and that without accountability, democracy would be meaningless. He said that corruption has spread to such an extent that international financial institutions incorporate safety clauses against corruption in their agreements with developing nations. He advised that all of us should respect law and no one should feel immune from it. He commended the efforts of TI-Pakistan in setting up the Centre.

The second speaker was Justice Haziqul Khairi, former Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court and a Trustee of TI-Pakistan. He spoke on the necessity for formulating procedures to appoint Aalim judges to the Shariat Courts. At present there was no qualifications for Aalim judges and it was left to the executive to appoint them. He also spoke of the need to strengthen the office of the Ombudsman. The ombudsman was the court of the poor as they could represent themselves before the ombudsman. He suggested that the Centre should analyse the complaints and identify those that could be solved by the Ombudsman. The complainants should then be advised to seek redress from the ombudsman.

Mr Sohail Muzaffar, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court and a Trustee of TI-Pakistan reported on the progress of the Centre. He informed the participants that the Centre aims at empowering citizens to make and pursue corrupted related complaints. They provide legal advice and assistance to victims of corruption, and allow to report corruption to the relevant authorities. Since the launch of Centre a number of complainants have been given advice. He said that with time the Centre will contribute effectively in reducing corruption.

The last speaker, Mr Amarnath Motumal, Advocate High Court & Member HRCP spoke on Human Rights and Legal Aid. He told the audience about human rights violations in Pakistan. He stressed the need to address the infringement of human rights, which in turn would affect corruption. He appreciated the efforts of TI-Pakistan in the opening of the Centre.

The seminar was attended by advocates, general public, media and members of TI-Pakistan.