May 7, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

The 233rd meeting of the Pakistan Bar Council, was held today at 02:00 p.m., in Council’s Office, Supreme Court Building, Islamabad, with Mr. Khush Dil Khan, Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council, in the Chair.

2.        The attendance of the meeting was as under:-

(1)        Mr. Khush Dil Khan                . . . . . .                Vice-Chairman
In Chair
(2)        Mr. Muhammad Faheem Wali        . . . . . .         Chairman
Executive Committee
(3)        Mr. Munir Ahmad Khan Kakar        . . . . . .                Member
(4)        Mr. Muhammad Tariq Afridi        . . . . . .                Member
(5)        Syed Amjad Shah                        . . . . . .                Member
(6)        Mr. Muhammad Masood Chishti        . . . . . .                Member
(7)        Ch. Tahir Nasrullah Warraich        . . . . . .                Member
(8)        Mr. Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon        . . . . . .                Member
(9)        Mr. Azam Nazeer Tarar                . . . . . .                Member
(10)        Syed Qalb-i-Hassan                        . . . . . .                Member
(11)        Mr. Hafeez-ur-Rehman Chaudhry. . . . . .                Member
(12)        Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig                . . . . . .                Member
(13)        Mr. Hassan Raza Pasha                . . . . . .                Member
(14)        Mr. Shafqat Mehmood Chauhan        . . . . . .                Member
(15)        Ch. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan                . . . . . .                Member

2.        The Pakistan Bar Council, apart from transacting other business of the Agenda, also took the following decisions:-

(1)        Holding of Law Graduates Assessment Test (LAW-GAT):-

The Pakistan Bar Council keeping in view the gravity of the situation and precious time of the Law Graduates, unanimously decided that the Higher Education Commission shall conduct the Law Graduates Assessment Test (LAW-GAT), without further delay, which is scheduled to be held on 30th May, 2021. In this regard the learned Attorney-General for Pakistan & Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council, was gracious enough to use his good offices to approach the NCOC and HEC for considerate relaxation and to ensure holding of LAW-GAT on 30-05-2021.

……P/2

(2)

(ii)        It was also decided that all those law graduates who could not pass the LAW-GAT in three attempts should be given ONE TIME SPECIAL CHANCE to appear and qualify the Law Graduates Assessment Test (LAW-GAT), examination. However, the condition of three maximum chances shall remain intact, this special chance so granted shall never be considered/quoted as a precedent.

(2) (i)        The Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism AML-DFT Regulations for Lawyers and other independent Legal Professions (DNFBPs), 2021; &

(ii)        Oversight Body Regulations for Self-Regulatory Body (SRB) of Lawyers (DNFBPS), 2021”

The Pakistan Bar Council examined and deliberated upon the provisions contained in the draft Bills pertaining to i.e. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism AML-DFT Regulations for Lawyers and other independent Legal Professions (DNFBPs), 2021 and “Oversight Body Regulations for Self-Regulatory Body (SRB) of Lawyers (DNFBPS), 2021”, and expressed its serious concerns and reservations regarding the proposed amendments requiring legal professionals to disclose certain information which is patently against the Constitution and the substantive law. Needless to say, that the communication between the client and Counsel is privileged and the same could not be breached directly or indirectly. The Pakistan Bar Council and the legal fraternity throughout Pakistan reject these proposed Amendments.

(3)        Establishment of Vaccination Centers at High Court Bar Associations premises throughout the Country.

The Pakistan Bar Council while keeping in mind the prevailing pandemic situation demanded of the Federal and Provincial Governments to establish COVID-19 Vaccination Centers at all District Courts and at the High Court Benches throughout the Country for early vaccination of Lawyers, equally being front line profession that comes in contact with the masses on frequent basis.
(Gulzar Ahmed)
Acting Secretary