Zardari challenge: Petitioner accused of misconduct

LHC hears one of the petitioners has violated bar rules and is liable to lose his law licence as a result.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court heard on Monday that one of the petitioners in the case against the president for holding two offices has violated bar rules and is liable to lose his law licence as a result.

Pakistan Lawyers Forum (PLF) president AK Dogar, Eng (r) Ghulam Jillani and Advocate Asif Mehmood Khan have challenged President Asif Ali Zardari’s right to hold the offices of both president and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman.

During proceedings on Monday, Advocate Afaq Ahmed rose from the gallery area to argue that the name of the PLF was a violation of Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) rules.

He said these rules prohibit the use of the word ‘Pakistan’ in the name of a law firm/organisation. This was illegal and professional misconduct on the part of the lawyer heading the PLF and his licence should be cancelled under Section 41 of the Punjab Bar Legal Practitioners Act, he said.

The court advised Afaq to file a formal application against Dogar and appointed him amicus curae, or friend of the court. It assured him that the matter pertaining to Dogar’s licence would be heard along with the cases in which Dogar is a petitioner/lawyer against Zardari.

Earlier, in discussions about the president’s reputation, Dogar argued that there was ample proof of his corruption in the press. The court responded that press reports were unreliable and did not constitute proof. Dogar argued that the Supreme Court itself had relied on press reports in its judgements.

The court adjourned the hearing till February 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2011.