October 27, 2003	Monday	Sha’aban 30, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has issued a notice to the advocate-general of Punjab asking whether a lawyer can be barred from practising law if it is established that he has stood surety for an accused.

The notice was issued on an appeal of Advocate Sheikh Saleem who was barred by the PBC’s disciplinary tribunal for acting as surety for a client. The tribunal held that it was a violation of the legal Practioner’s Act for a lawyer to stand surety for an accused.

The four-member appellate tribunal led by Justice Mian Ajmal issued notice to the advocate general to give his views on the issue.

Mr Saleem stated that his licence to practice law was suspended for two months on the complaint of the wife of Sindh Senior Minister Arbab Abdur Rahim.

The complainant alleged that the senior minister of Sindh was instrumental in the suspension of his license.

He also said it was the right of an advocate to undertake the defence of a person accused of crime, regardless of his personal opinion.

Advocate Habib Wahabul Kheiri represented Mr Saleem.