LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has given an opportunity to Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) to withdraw its circular that deprives foreign qualified accountants of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) from getting training at organisations registered with the former.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah asked counsel for the ICAP to ensure withdrawal of the circular by April 7 or the court would issue a direction.

ACCA professional Safwan Salim filed a petition through Advocate Sheraz Zaka contending that ICAP has been exploiting its regulatory powers to attract students and damage the market share of ACCA.

He said ICAP in July 2012 issued a directive ruling that students doing non-ICAP qualifications, like ACCA, would not be able to do training with any accountancy firm approved by the institute. He said there should be a level-playing field in accountancy profession.

The ICAP opposed the petition saying the institute being a regulatory body had the power to put the impugned bar. The Higher Education Commission in its version said the impugned act of the ICAP was a disdainful measure, destroying future of ACCA professionals.

CHILD LABOUR: The LHC on Wednesday issued notice to director general of Child Protection Welfare Bureau on a petition questioning steps initiated for elimination of child labour across the province.

Advocate Sheraz Zaka argued that children less than 16 years of age had been employed in brick kilns, Orange Line and signal-free corridor projects.

He said children were being exploited in the industrial area and also being used for begging which was a violation of article 25 of the Constitution that states children up to 16 years will attend school. He stated that Pakistan was signatory to international labour convention, which prohibited from engaging children less than 16 years in workplaces.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan adjourned hearing till May 4 and directed a deputy attorney general to file comments.

Published in Dawn, March 31th, 2016