The Legal Aid Office is a privately managed, government funded, non-profit that works for the welfare of prisoners. We have seven offices located across Sindh, and we provide free legal aid and representation to juveniles and adult male and female prisoners throughout the province. As of 2019, our services extend to 25 prisons. We seek to support Sindh’s criminal justice system by advocating for speedy trials and case resolutions, which in turn reduces the burden on an over-crowded and under-resourced prison system.

Our work began as the Committee for the Welfare of Women Prisoners Sindh (CWWP) in 2004, which was set up by the Home Department to provide legal assistance to women and juvenile prisoners under trial. Simultaneously, a ‘Women Prisoners Welfare Society’ (WPWS) was also registered in 2005 to ensure the welfare of prisoners and to help provide extra funds for the initial establishment of the Legal Aid Office.

In 2011, the Committee was renamed as the Committee for the Welfare of Prisoners (CWP) to expand the mandate to free legal assistance and representation to all inmates, including adult males across Sindh. The CWP- LAO is headed by Justice(R) Nasir Aslam Zahid, former Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court. The Committee operates under the umbrella of the provincial government and its members include:-

1. Justice (Rtd) Nasir Aslam Zahid Chairman
2. Inspector General of Prisons Sindh Member
3. Additional Secretary (Prison), Home Department Government of Sindh Member
4. Additional Secretary Women Development Department Government of Sindh Member
5. Deputy Inspector General of Prisons(concerned Region) Member
6. Director Women Development, Sindh Member
7. Barrister Haya Emaan Zahid Secretary / Member

The main objective of the CWP is to improve access to justice for prisoners and is built around the belief that free legal aid is a fundamental right, as well as the right to fair trial and representation before the court. The Committee is a successful example of a public-private partnership in Sindh.

Terms of Reference:

  • To provide legal awareness and legal empowerment to prisoners;

  • To provide free legal aid, advice and assistance to prisoners;

  • To work for the welfare of juvenile prisoners, women prisoners and children living with their mothers in prisons in the areas of education, health rehabilitation and livelihood support; and

  • To review laws, rules, regulations and policies related to prisoners and prisons and suggest repeal, amendment or new legislation if needed.