Workshop: Mobile ALAC – Free Legal Advice Camp Takht Bhai Mardan
Workshop: Mobile ALAC – Free Legal Advice Camp
Venue: Takht Bhai Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Date: 23rd August 2023
Summary:
Transparency International Pakistan, in partnership with the Movement for Rural Development Organization (MRDO), organized a legal advice camp, referred to as the Mobile ALAC in Takht Bhai, district Mardan. The event was organized with the following key objectives:
- To provide community a safe platform to report their issues/complaints
- To enhance awareness about the Importance of Accountability and RTI laws
During the ALAC Mobile camp, Advocate Syed Usman provided free legal guidance and information to the citizens, offering practical legal solutions to the complainants.
Mr. Ashfaque Ahmed, Project Coordinator, TI Pakistan explained the legal camp’s objectives and explained why instances of corruption and mismanagement should be reported. He said that reporting corruption is essential because it safeguards public funds, ensures equitable access to resources, and upholds the principles of fairness and justice. It promotes transparency and accountability, ultimately leading to a more just and prosperous society.
He emphasized the importance of raising voices regarding key issues and urged the citizens to lodge complaints with both TI Pakistan and the relevant government authorities. Additionally, he introduced TI Pakistan as a corruption watchdog, giving details about its functions and role highlighting key projects and initiatives.
In the Mobile ALAC, a total of 57 complainants sought assistance at the camp, including 11 women. The citizens brought several pressing issues and voiced their concerns regarding:
- Land disputes and encroachments.
- The state of road maintenance.
- Inadequate staffing during nighttime hours at public hospitals.
- Low gas pressure in the households in the area.
- The absence of a playground and library facilities.
- Challenges related to the Benazir Income Support Program.
- Electricity-related complaints, particularly issues concerning overbilling.
All the complainants were provided with detailed legal advice. Moreover, their applications were collected and duly forwarded to TI Pakistan, where after scrutinizing, they will be uploaded in database. If substantiated evidence is available, these issues will be forwarded to the relevant authorities for appropriate resolution for the citizens problems.
