Rana Saeed’s suspension: Legal fraternity convenes today to mull options

PbBC’s All Punjab Representatives Conference called to discuss future strategy

LAHORE: The legal fraternity is all set to mull over its options at the All Punjab Representatives Conference at the Punjab Bar Council today (Saturday) in view of the looming showdown between bar associations and the judiciary over the suspension and reinstatement of a senior lawyer.

The bar council (PbBC) called the conference after Lahore Bar Association (LBA) Vice-President Rana Saeed Anwar’s legal practice licence was suspended by the Lahore High Court over allegations of misbehaviour with a sessions judge.

The lawyers are likely to put forth a list of demands before the judiciary as well, including a suggestion to put condition of 10-year practice as a LHC judge for becoming the chief justice, The Express Tribune has learnt.

PbBC Executive Committee Chairman Mumtaz Mustafa told The Express Tribune that the lawyers would discuss several points with representatives of different bar councils coming from all over Punjab.

He said the legal community would discuss in detail the names of those judges recommended by the LHC chief justice and their educational backgrounds. “We will also demand the chief justice to give a list of judges against whom he has taken action,” he said, adding the bar would also provide lists of those lawyers against whom action has been initiated.

LHC Bar Association (LHCBA) Secretary Ans Ghazi pointed out that several prosecutors and sessions judges were in the list of those judges recommended by the LHC chief justice while no senior lawyer was included.

LBA President Arshad Jahangir Jhoja said the lawyers stood with the PbBC and would raise their voice against the “illegal committee” formed by the LHC chief justice. “The LHC does not have any right to suspend any lawyer’s licence,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2016.