LAHORE, Jan 01 (APP/DNA): The Punjab Home Department has launched a new initiative to provide free legal aid to indigent prisoners in all jails of the province.

In line with the directive of Punjab’s chief minister, the Punjab government  has ensured that no poor prisoner would be deprived of legal assistance.

According to spokesperson for the Home Department, the department has  set up free legal aid committees in all 43 jails across the province. The committees would ensure that prisoners who could not afford legal representation for their cases were provided free legal aid.

The Home Department, in collaboration with the Punjab Bar Council and District Bar Associations, has formed the committees. Additionally, the Home Department has also issued the rules and regulations for providing free legal aid to prisoners.

According to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the department, the deputy superintendent of jail would identify prisoners who require a free lawyer.

Every Tuesday, announcements regarding the availability of free legal aid would be made in the barracks to ensure all prisoners were informed. On Wednesdays, the list of needy prisoners would be sent to the relevant district’s free legal aid committee.

The SOPs also state that deputy superintendent would arrange meetings between the prisoners and their appointed lawyers, ensuring all listed prisoners receive the legal assistance they were entitled to.

The Jail superintendent, with the help of Bar Council president, would ensure that there were no obstacles in providing legal aid to prisoners. If lawyers were unavailable, the relevant deputy inspector general (DIG) of the region would inform the IG Prisons.

In such cases, the IG, in coordination with the Punjab Bar Council, would ensure immediate availability of legal assistance.

Under the newly issued SOPs, each deputy superintendent (Judicial) was required to send the previous month’s free legal aid records to the IG Office by the 5th of each month. Similarly, the IG Prisons would compile these details from across Punjab and send a final report to the Home Department by the 10th of each month. The report will include the number of prisoners who received legal aid and explain why any prisoners  were unable to access it.

The secretary Punjab Home Department has instructed the IG Prisons to strictly enforce the rules and regulations regarding free legal aid.