ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has warned those lawyers of a strict action who bring a bad name to the profession through their professional misconduct.
Presided over by the Supreme Court judge, Justice Javed Iqbal, a disciplinary committee meeting of the council held in Lahore on December 18 observed that lawyers were not expected of demonstrating slackness, negligence or irresponsible attitude while handling and pleading cases of their clients.
Hearing different disciplinary cases, the committee observed that lawyers were supposed to uphold the dignity and high standing of their profession and discharge their professional duties with a sense of responsibility.
"In view of such complaints, the committee would take a stern action against those found delinquent and guilty of professional misconduct," PBC said in a statement released from its Islamabad secretariat.
"Careless and negligent attitude of some of our lawyers is shaking the trust of the litigant public, therefore, a stern action against such lawyers is necessary," commented a senior Supreme Court lawyer.
Considering two appeals of Niaz Ahmed Niaz advocate from Sheikhupura against the decisions of the Punjab Bar Council tribunal, the committee directed him to make payment of Rs213,000 in three equal monthly instalments to the complainant within one month failing which, his license would stand suspended.
On the request of Muhammad Akmal against Ms Sitara Jabeen in the restoration case of a review petition in a disciplinary appeal, the committee adjourned the hearing so that the applicant could go through the earlier detailed judgment in which his appeal was rejected.
The committee after hearing parties in another disciplinary complaint of Haji Zulfiqar Ali against Shafqat Mahmood Lodhi advocate decided to order a thorough probe against the respondent lawyer as the nature of allegations levelled against him was of serious nature.
The committee, therefore, referred the case to the disciplinary tribunal of the PBC under Section 41(4) of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act 1973 to record the evidence through a detailed inquiry.
The committee also decided to keep August 7, 2003 order against the lawyer intact till disposal of the complaint. Through this order, his license to practice was suspended by an earlier disciplinary committee.
The lawyer is already facing a number of criminal cases and disciplinary actions. The committee, however, disposed of another complaint against the same lawyer after he assured the committee to return an amount of Rs100,000 to complainant Amanat Ali.
It also dismissed a complaint of Ms Sadia Riaz against Maqbool Ellahi Malik advocate after she withdrew her case. Hearing of two appeals namely Muhammad Bashir against Malik Iftikhar Awan advocate and Abdul Rehman against Falak Sher advocate were also adjourned till next hearing on account of illness of Iftikhar Awan, while the second on non-service of the notice on the appellant.
