Test-ing times: Lawyers with a licence to cheat

At PbBC enrolment exam, candidates flip through books, exchange answer sheets

LAHORE: A majority of the 1,800 aspiring lawyers who took the Punjab Bar Council’s (PbBC) enrolment exam on Saturday were provided plenty of opportunities to cheat.

For the 1,500 men and 300 women who arrived at the test venue – the Lahore High Court, the exam had far-reaching implications. If they pass the exam, they will obtain licence to practice and represent their clients in cases in lower courts.

The candidates appeared under the supervision of PbBC. However, insiders told The Express Tribune many candidates were seen carrying books in their hands and even flipped through the pages throughout the exam to answer questions.

A large number of candidates also exchanged answer sheets among themselves to help one another out.

Corrupt influence

Pakistan Bar Council Legal Education Committee Chairperson Azam Nazir Tarar said the legal profession had been ruined by such practices and lawyers were no longer being selected on merit.

“Some members of the bar use this forum for political interest,” he said. “Many lawyers who take the enrolment exam are given opportunities to cheat.” According to Tarar, these lawyers are subsequently told to vote for political members of the bar.

The committee chairperson said he had introduced an exam by National Testing Service. Through this system, a third party administered the exams and assessed candidates on the basis of merit. No member of the bar can intervene in this process.

Tarar lamented the Lahore High Court had granted a stay against the proposal while the Sindh and Peshawar high courts had granted verdicts in its favour.

He vehemently opposed the practice of cheating in enrolment exam. Tarar maintained legal institutions will be weakened if the system continues to churn out lawyers who are ineligible.

Condemnation

PbBC member Hafiz Insarul Haq insisted lawyers it would be unfavourable in the long run if candidates were selected without merit.

Bushra Qamar, a member of the enrolment committee, raised her voice against the enrolment exam, saying candidates should be selected through NTS. She added the fate of the prospective lawyers should not be left in the hands of bar council members.

Bushra confirmed she had also received information about the use of unfair practices during the exam.

PbBC Executive Committee Chairperson Mumtaz Mustafa condemned the manner in which the enrolment exam was conducted. He said the practice of cheating would bring a bad name to bar council. Mustafa said the bar would recommend the LHC chief justice provide enrolment through the judicial academy staff.

He added bar members contested elections and allowed candidates to cheat so they could vote for them in polls in the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2016.