*LBA says they don’t stand with PTI chief’s strike call
The role of lawyers’ community to provide speedy justice to the people is of great importance, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a meeting with a delegation of Lahore Bar Association (LBA) led by its President Ishtiaq Ahmed on Saturday.
The delegation comprised of vice presidents Labaib Zafar, Sahir Abbas, Secretary General Salim Lodhi, Qaseem Aslam, Tehseen Zuhra and other office-bearers. Provincial ministers Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Rana Mashhood and senior officials were also present on the occasion.
The LBA member criticised negative politics and announced disassociation with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) December 15 protest.
The delegation thanked the chief minister for assuring redressal of the problems of the LBA.
Shahbaz said that the lawyers’ community will have to play its role more actively for the redressal of grievances of the people at police stations and courts. He said there is a need that bar associations should come forward to play positive role for the provision of speedy justice.
He said that the Punjab government is taking steps for the welfare of the lawyers’ community. He said that the lawyers’ community has played a significant role in the restoration of independent judiciary. He said that effective steps have been taken for ensuring merit and transparency at every level in the province.
The chief minister said that Land Record Management Information System is of great importance for ensuring transparency. He said that the project costing Rs 14 billion will be completed speedily.
Criticising PTI’s sit-ins and shut down calls, He said that Pakistan cannot afford any kind of negative politics. He said that protest politics has caused huge loss to the national economy. He assured that the problems of the lawyers’ community will be resolved on priority basis.
LBA President Ishtiaq Ahmed said that the lawyers’ community considers negative politics as harmful for the country and has discouraged sit-in politics at every forum. He said that the chief minister is taking unprecedented steps for the people of the province which are appreciated at every level. He said that Shahbaz Sharif has always taken lead in public welfare projects.
Ahmed said that the role of the chief minister for supremacy of law and constitution and stability of democracy is commendable. He said that the LBA fully supports the steps of the chief minister and is standing with him.
CM DISCUSSES TRANSPORTATION OF IMPORTED COAL WITH RAILWAYS MINISTER:
Separately, Shahbaz presided over a high-level meeting which was especially attended by Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafique especially among others. The meeting discussed the arrangements regarding transportation of imported coal to coal power projects and agreed to further accelerate the process of transportation of imported coal through railway system to coal power projects.
Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said that the government is taking serious and speedy steps for overcoming energy crisis. He said that sites have also been selected for installing small coal power projects in Punjab. He said that low cost electricity will be generated through coal.
The chief minister said that the government is endeavoring for generating electricity through cheap sources.
He said that coal-based power projects are being installed at Sahiwal, Rahim Yar Khan and Muzaffargarh for which a system is being evolved for transportation of imported coal and the Railways department is playing an important role in this regard.
Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafique told the meeting that Railway Freight Transport Company has been constituted and the Railways department will ensure steps regarding transportation of imported coal to coal power plants according to the vision of the chief minister. Railways Secretary and Chairperson Parveen Agha, Planning and Development chairman, additional chief secretary energy, secretary minerals and senior officials of the Railways attended the meeting.
