Minister of Justice: Stature of Defense Lawyer and Legal Aid Provider to be Akin to Prosecutor
Qanoonpooh Fazal Ahmad Manawi Minister of Justice participated and delivered his speech at the conference on the role of attorneyship or practice of law in ensuring justice and the implementation of fair trail norms. His Excellency emphasized that the defense attorneys still do not have the place they should have in the trial proceedings and it is needed that this role be further strengthened.
The conference on the role of practicing law in ensuring justice and implementation of fair trail norms was held on Wednesday 30th of March, 2021 by the Independent Bar Association in collaboration with the French Institute in Kabul. Minister of Justice at this conference appreciated and thanked France cooperation in deferent areas with Afghanistan and also that Paris named a street in honor of the national hero of the country.
Referring to the role of defense lawyer in the chain of justice, Manawi said that they should try to strengthen the role of defense attorney so that the trial proceedings run in a smooth manner. He emphasized that the position of defense attorney and legal aid in a case should be as of a prosecutor, but unfortunately this stature has not been achieved yet.
He said however the situation of country’s justice institutions has improved than before, the legal aid providers who defend the rights of indigent suspects and defendants still complain of a dual behavior.
Referring to the role of police at the detection stage, Manawi said that however the role of police is also not less than the prosecution and the courts, but unfortunately our police is lagging behind in this area and sometimes cause problems for the justice institutions.
Minister of Justice also stipulated that the spirit of the justice institutions in particular of government employees in general is stringent and inflexible, i-e. Instead of trying to solve a problem they are making hindrances, and this needs to be changed.
He said that the Ministry of Justice is ready to address the legal problems in this area and to coordinate among institutions.
Manawi also anticipated that the independent bar association would conduct a big conference with the participation of defense attorneys across the country and prepare the grounds for further cooperation.
In this conference, Rohullah Qarizadah President of the independent bar association also emphasized on strengthening the role of defense attorneys and creating of coordination. He further said that these issues would cause to attract the general public confidence towards the formal justice system.
On the other hand the President of French Institute in Afghanistan discussed about the cooperation of this country in deferent fields including cooperation with justice institution and promised for further cooperation in this area.
