Looming showdown: Bar overrules judges, reinstates lawyer
Punjab Bar Council restores Advocate Rana Saeed’s practice licence
LBA Vice-President Advocate Rana Saeed Anwar. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
In a rare move set to ruffle the feathers of the higher judiciary, the Punjab Bar Council has restored the licence of a senior lawyer, overruling the decision of the Lahore High Court’s advisory committee.
The LHC panel headed by Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had suspended the licence of Lahore Bar Association Vice-President Rana Saeed Anwar on Saturday over allegations of misbehaviour with a sessions judge.
On Sunday however, the Punjab Bar Council’s (PbBC) executive committee restored Rana Saeed’s licence and also issued notices to the LHC registrar and the Lahore district and sessions judge, informing them about the decision. Legal experts have terming this decision contempt of court.
The PbBC panel, headed by its Chairperson Mumtaz Mustafa and comprising Khawaja Qaiser Butt, Abdul Samad Khan Bisriya and Khalid Buzdar as members, directed the order should also be circulated among the district judiciary and be given to the presidents of the LBA and Lahore High Court Bar Association.
While the PbBC has put off the proceedings till October 15, its order does not mention why the next hearing has been fixed without anyone being asked to reply.
The PbBC order said there was no provision of law for the decision taken by the LHC advisory committee. Under the Practitioners and Bar Council Act, 1973, the Supreme Court or a high court can suspend the licence of an advocate but not its advisory committee.
The three-page order states the PbBC executive committee has unanimously arrived at the conclusion that such an exercise amounts to transgression and interference in the working of the bar association. The cancellation of Advocate Rana Saeed’s licence is illegal and he is entitled to practice before any court of law within domain of his licence, it reads.
The LHC advisory committee had initiated proceedings against Advocate Rana Saeed on the complaint of Additional District and Sessions Judge Nadeem Anjum. The judge had complained the advocate along with his colleagues used abusive language against him and harassed him in the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2016.
In a rare move set to ruffle the feathers of the higher judiciary, the Punjab Bar Council has restored the licence of a senior lawyer, overruling the decision of the Lahore High Court’s advisory committee.
The LHC panel headed by Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had suspended the licence of Lahore Bar Association Vice-President Rana Saeed Anwar on Saturday over allegations of misbehaviour with a sessions judge.
On Sunday however, the Punjab Bar Council’s (PbBC) executive committee restored Rana Saeed’s licence and also issued notices to the LHC registrar and the Lahore district and sessions judge, informing them about the decision. Legal experts have terming this decision contempt of court.
The PbBC panel, headed by its Chairperson Mumtaz Mustafa and comprising Khawaja Qaiser Butt, Abdul Samad Khan Bisriya and Khalid Buzdar as members, directed the order should also be circulated among the district judiciary and be given to the presidents of the LBA and Lahore High Court Bar Association.
While the PbBC has put off the proceedings till October 15, its order does not mention why the next hearing has been fixed without anyone being asked to reply.
The PbBC order said there was no provision of law for the decision taken by the LHC advisory committee. Under the Practitioners and Bar Council Act, 1973, the Supreme Court or a high court can suspend the licence of an advocate but not its advisory committee.
The three-page order states the PbBC executive committee has unanimously arrived at the conclusion that such an exercise amounts to transgression and interference in the working of the bar association. The cancellation of Advocate Rana Saeed’s licence is illegal and he is entitled to practice before any court of law within domain of his licence, it reads.
The LHC advisory committee had initiated proceedings against Advocate Rana Saeed on the complaint of Additional District and Sessions Judge Nadeem Anjum. The judge had complained the advocate along with his colleagues used abusive language against him and harassed him in the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2016.