Apex regulatory body of the lawyers ‘Pakistan Bar Council’ (PBC) decided unanimously in its 233rd meeting on Friday that without further delay High Education Commission shall conduct Law Graduates Assessment Test (LAW-GAT) on May 30,2021.
“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” said in a statement.
It added that the Attorney General for Pakistan who is also chairman of the PBC shall use his good offices to approach the NCOC and HEC for considerate relaxation and to ensure holding of LAW-GAT as per schedule.
Vice chairman of the PBC Khush Dil Khan chaired the meeting in attendance with Muhammad Faheem Wali chairman executive committee, and members including Munir Ahmad Khan Kakar, Muhammad Tariq Afridi, Syed Amjad Shah, Muhammad Masood Chishti, Ch. Tahir Nasrullah Warraich, Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Syed Qalb-i-Hassan, Hafeez-ur-Rehman Chaudhry, Mirza Aziz Akbar Baig, Hassan Raza Pasha, Shafqat Mehmood Chauhan and Ch. Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan
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 test. However, the condition of three maximum chances shall remain intact, this special chance so granted shall never be considered/quoted as a precedent.
During the meeting the PBC also examined and deliberated upon the provisions contained in the draft Bills pertaining to 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.
The PBC 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 Council said.
The Pakistan Bar Council and the legal fraternity throughout Pakistan reject these proposed Amendments.
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.
Charming phrase