Background

During 2021, it was mutually decided that these 13 DLACs will be converted into a legal aid provider’s platform as Dastageer Legal Aid Foundation, Pakistan. Legal Rights Forum (LRF), one of the active implementation partners of TAF in Sindh, was nominated to be the founder host of this Foundation on voluntarily basis due to LRF’s potential and vast experience in managing Foundations besides providing legal aid to the children, women and marginalized communities; and its proactive role in ongoing struggle for institutionalization of legal aid mechanism, improving criminal justice system and strengthening the rule of law since 2007.
The senior management of LRF discussed the matter in detail and decided to host this Foundation and re-strategize it. LRF has recently revised DLAF vision, mission and scope of work and under process to formally register the Foundation in Security Commission of Pakistan under sector 42. LRF will also revised and updated its membership.

Recently, LRF has re-launched the Foundation in association with its members in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar and Islamabad; it has now 9 organizations, 9 law firms and 45 independent lawyers across Pakistan.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

DLAF members are providing Legal aid, legal assistance and rehabilitation and re integration services to prisoners including women children, persons with disabilities, Transgender and minorities. It is also raising awareness on human rights, civil liberties, counseling in legal procedures and even representation in court at all levels. DLAF is also addressing challenges in justice sector such as inhuman prison conditions/judicial lockups, lengthy pre-trial detentions, illegal detentions, and long trials.

DLAF will provide an efficient, responsive, inexpensive, expeditious and accessible justice for all. DLAF also supports the strengthening of justice by promoting equal access to justice and improving criminal justice system of Pakistan. It seeks to enhance the capacity of justice providers and related state actors. DLAF aims to increase awareness on alternate dispute resolution methods to decrease pressure on already overburdened courts. It is also contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 16 focusing on peace, justice and strong institutions. DLAF is empowering the poor and marginalized people to seek response and remedies from injustice.

Dastageer Legal Aid Foundation, Pakistan (DLAFP) is a pool of pro bono lawyers, law firms and organizations nationwide in Pakistan. DLAF members have been providing an efficient, inexpensive, expeditious, accessible, and quality legal aid for all and also providing legal awareness, capacity building, and rehabilitation and re-integration services to prisoners including women children, persons with disabilities, transgender, and minorities. It is also raising public awareness about laws, civil liberties, the redressal mechanism, and the windows to access justice; strengthen rule of law, improving criminal justice system and developing Rule of Law Index, Pakistan; Promoting Alternate Dispute Resolutions; Conducting legal analysis and providing legal suggestions for the rectification of criminal justice system; Foundationing cooperation and coordination national and international level working on legal aid and capacity building. It seeks to enhance the capacity of justice provider’s state actors. It is also contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. DLAF is empowering the poor and marginalized people to seek response and remedies from injustice.