Latest news with #PakistanBarCouncil
Business Recorder
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
SC reduces duration of LLB programme to three years
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court reduced the duration of LLB programme from five to four years. A five-judge constitutional bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, on Wednesday, heard the petition of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) regarding legal education reforms. The court accepted the application of PBC to suspend the Special Equivalence Examination (SEE-LAW) for law graduates of foreign universities, whose applications are pending for enrolment, as the same was discriminatory and added an extra burden on foreign law degree holders as they already have appeared for LAW-GAT. The court also approved the request of the PBC, Directorate of Legal Education (DLE) and Higher Education Commission, to reduce the duration of LLB programme from five to four years in line with all other undergraduate degrees. Legal Education Committee of PBC in 2016 had amended 'Pakistan Bar Council Legal Education Rules, 2015'. Under the Rules the Universities imparting Legal Education, are required to give admissions for academic year 2016-17 and thereafter, on the basis 5 years LLB programme, instead of 3 years LLB programme which after promulgation of the 'Pakistan Bar Council Legal Education Rules, 2015' in December, 2015, stands abolished. The committee called upon all the universities imparting legal education to ensure that admission to LLB classes for the academic year 2016-17, must be made on the basis of 5 years LLB programme, as required under the Rules and in case of failure on the part of any University to do so, will render the University concerned to an action which may extend even to its de-recognition. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PBC, SCBA condemn assault on Sindh law minister's residence
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) condemned the assault on Sindh Law minister's residence, saying no one could be allowed to damage public property and challenge the writ of the State. Vice-Chairman PBC Chaudhary Tahir Nasrullah Warraich, Chairman Executive Committee of bar Muhammad Yaseen Azad and Member PBC Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon have vehemently condemned the incident that took place yesterday at Naushahro Feroze, when demonstrators protesting against the six-canal project, stormed the residence of Sindh Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, setting it ablaze, vandalising property, and burning household items, which is very sad and distressing. They said Lanjar is an esteemed member of the Sindh Bar Council and its former vice-chairman. They reiterated that the matter of six-canal project has already been placed before the Council of Common Interests (CCI), the constitutional competent forum to settle inter-provincial matters, to resolve it legally and institutionally. They further said that the PBC reaffirms its commitment to promoting democratic values, constitutionalism, and the peaceful resolution of all national issues through dialogue and legal mechanisms. The legal fraternity cannot turn a blind eye on such like illegal acts, since peaceful protest is a democratic right of every citizen, but no one could be allowed to damage public property and challenge the writ of the state. They demanded that it is incumbent upon IG Sindh Police, DIG Police, Naushahro Feroze and the relevant law enforcement agencies to conduct fair and transparent probe of this incident and arrest culprits immediately and deal with iron hands individuals involved in this incident. President Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta and the 27th cabinet of the SCBA that the Bar Association views this incident with grave concern. We assert that such acts of vandalism, ransacking, and assaults on the homes of respectable individuals under the false guise of protest can never be justified. This incident is a classic example of blatant disregard of law and sheer manifestation of lawlessness that has devolved into terrorism. These perpetrators have openly challenged the writ of the state and taken the law into their own hands. They demand that all individuals involved in this violent incident must be apprehended and prosecuted under the Anti-Terrorism Act and other applicable laws without delay. It is imperative that appropriate measures are implemented to restore peace and to arrest the miscreants, ensuring that no one dares to undermine ~the rule of law again. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Judicial commission member steps down over appointment 'controversies'
Listen to article Senior Supreme Court advocate Akhtar Hussain has resigned from his position as a member of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), citing concerns over controversies surrounding judicial appointments. Hussain, who was nominated thrice by the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), submitted his resignation to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, who heads the commission. In his letter, he expressed dissatisfaction with the recent selection process for Supreme Court judges. "On present controversies with regard to judicial appointments, I am unable to continue and, hereby, resign as a member of JCP," he wrote, requesting the PBC to nominate a new representative in his place. Despite stepping down, Hussain assured his continued support for judicial independence and democratic institutions. The resignation comes shortly after the JCP appointed six new judges to the Supreme Court, a move that sparked criticism from some legal and political circles. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers and two senior Supreme Court judges boycotted the process, raising questions about its transparency. Earlier this month, the Judicial Commission sought nominations from high courts across the country, asking for lists of five senior judges from each. However, disputes over seniority and transfers—particularly in the Islamabad High Court (IHC)—led to internal dissent. A group of IHC judges formally challenged the revised seniority list, arguing that a recently transferred judge should be placed at the bottom of the list instead of being considered for immediate promotion. Hussain's departure is the latest challenge for the 13-member Judicial Commission, which was restructured under the 26th Constitutional Amendment to include four lawmakers. The commission, chaired by the chief justice of Pakistan, is responsible for appointing judges to the Supreme Court, high courts, and Federal Shariat Court. The resignation has reignited debates over the independence and transparency of judicial appointments in Pakistan. Legal experts and bar councils have long called for reforms to the process, arguing that it needs to be more structured and merit-based to uphold the credibility of the judiciary. Earlier, Opposition Leader Omar Ayub—who was among four lawmakers nominated as JCP members—also tendered his resignation, further highlighting the growing tensions within the commission. With Hussain's exit, the Pakistan Bar Council is expected to nominate a replacement in the coming days. Meanwhile, the controversy over judicial appointments is likely to remain a contentious issue within Pakistan's legal and political landscape. Moreover, the Islamabad High Court Bar Association had filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court last week, challenging the president's authority to transfer judges without public interest justification. This marks the second major challenge to judicial transfers in recent days. Filed under Article 184(3) by Bar President Riasat Ali Azad, the petition contends that the president does not have unlimited powers under Article 200(1) of the Constitution to reassign judges between high courts. It argues that judicial transfers should only occur in the public interest. The petition follows a similar move by five judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) have filed a petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, challenging judicial transfers and their impact on seniority. The 49-page constitutional petition, filed under Article 184(3) through senior lawyers Munir A. Malik and Barrister Salahuddin, argues that the President of Pakistan misused Article 200(1) by overriding the Judicial Commission's authority in transferring judges.
Express Tribune
26-01-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Ban on LLB admissions
The Pakistan Bar Council's recent decision to impose a moratorium on new LLB admissions in several law institutions and colleges across the country, including the University of Sindh, has evoked a mixed reaction from stakeholders. The ban serves as a catalyst for these institutions to rectify their deficiencies and enhance their infrastructure, registration processes, and treatment of tutors, ensuring fair examination results and acceptable behaviour towards students, in accordance with the principles of natural justice. This ban is anticipated to yield better educational standards and a brighter future for law students, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the legal profession. Conversely, the ban has disrupted the education of current students, potentially impacting their academic progress and future prospects, and may be deemed a breach of their legitimate expectations. Furthermore, the ban may have financial implications for the institutions, affecting their ability to provide education and employ requisite staff, and may also be considered a restraint on trade. Prospective students planning to enroll in these institutions are also left with limited options for pursuing a law degree, potentially delaying their academic and professional goals, and may be deemed to have suffered an injustice. In light of these circumstances, it is imperative for the administration to take immediate action to address the issues prompting the ban and work towards lifting it, in order to mitigate the negative consequences and prevent the ban from becoming a double-edged sword. The administration must ensure that the institutions comply with the relevant laws, regulations, and standards, and provide a conducive learning environment for students. As the saying goes, 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' The institutions/colleges must use this ban as an opportunity to revamp their systems, improve their standards, and come out stronger on the other side. Advocate Riaz Ali Panhwar Hyderabad
