RECORDER REPORT

HYDERABAD: Senior lawyers asked junior cadre to take cases of public interest litigation at district courts to protect interest of common men and reduce burden on higher courts. "We can give power to the oppressed communities through court of law by filing public interest litigation and provide relief to common men," said Ali Palh, a senior lawyer and human rights defender.

He said this while speaking at a seminar on 'Understanding Tenancy Act and Labour Laws', organized by Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) at Hyderabad District Bar Association Hall on Monday. He said the lawyers should define their role in the society, being conscious citizens and protect the interest of the common citizens at their forums. "Let the people, like members of civil society come to say their issues, and we should discuss on these issues at lawyers forums," he said. He described the Tenancy Act and labour laws and said "despite being availability of these regulations, we can see violations of the laws and people suffer a lot." He said in fact some learned lawyers may know more about this tenancy Act and labour laws but more number of cadres needs to understand how to help the peasants and workers, who are victimized. It happens because of traditional legal system.

He urged lawyers to take initiative and protect interest of the common people. "These issues like Tenancy Act are related to lawyers and we have to see how this law protect the interest of peasants' communities in Sindh," he said. "WE should give space to oppressed people to come and narrate their issues and we have to respond them positively," Ali Palh said. He invited lawyers to talk about these laws, which are made for the protecting rights of oppressed people like peasants.

Ali introducing the role of PILER; said this organization has played active role. It does not take issues related to labour and peasants but also challenged the violating procedures. Quite recently PILER has filed various petitions mainly on Thar issues, Sindh IGP transfer and other leading cases coming on media.

Fazil Qadir Memon, Hyderabad District Bar Association President, General Secretary Bar Imdad Ali Unar Advocate Wasim Shah, Advocate Ayaz Rajpar, Advocate Noor Nabi Buledi, Abdul Jabbar Belai, Hari leader Punhal Sario, Shujauddin Qureshi and others addressed the seminar, which attracted a large number of lawyers.

Hari leader Punhal Sario said the curse of bonded labour in Sindh is because there is violation of Tenancy Act. There is no implementation of the law. Hundreds of peasant families have been living under slavery. These people need help to be made free. He asked lawyers to take these issues at every possible level to help these people. He said the hundreds of haris and peasant rights activists initiated long march from the grave Sindh Hari Committee founder Hyder Bakhsh Jatoi to Sindh Assembly in 2008 and handed over a Memorandum to the Sindh Assembly Speaker, Deputy Speaker and parliamentarian committee on labour rights. He said the memorandum comprised on a comprehensive draft on the law to protect rights of peasants. The speaker and parliamentary committee merely promised to take initiative but later they refused to change it. Since then haris are living in pathetic conditions.

Shujauddin Qureshi of PILER said Tenancy Act was formed in 1950 after long struggle of Sindh Hari Committee led by Comrade Hyder Bakhsh Jatoi. It was designed looking the situation at that time and fixed fine Rs500 only in case of violation of the law. But now the situation has been changed. There should be made amendment and Sindh government may take steps on priority to avoid slavery in the province. He said the people are struggling to provide relief to the oppressed segments of the society. Lawyers have their role and playing appreciably. But there is need to involve more people representing different organizations. Hence legal members of fraternity are a force, which understand the laws and can extend help for rural workforce, he concluded.