One of the quietest revolutions in Pakistan's justice sector is not happening in a grand courtroom, but on the ground, through a policy designed to place lawyers within reach of those who could never dream of hiring one. The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan has expanded its free legal aid programme to every tier of the judiciary, increasing financial assistance for litigants to Rs50,000.

On paper, it may appear to be a technical measure, a modest sum tucked into the machinery of judicial reforms. In reality, it is a declaration that justice in Pakistan must no longer be the privilege of the wealthy but the right of all citizens. Since 2012, over 7,000 litigants have benefited from Rs115 million disbursed through District Legal Empowerment Committees across the country. Behind these numbers are stories of prisoners forgotten in overcrowded jails, widows unable to contest inheritance disputes and families crippled by legal expenses.........

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