ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Friday expressed serious concern and reservations over proposed amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) Regulations for Lawyers and other independent Legal Professions (DNFBPs), 2021, and Oversight Body Regulations for Self-Regulatory Body (SRB) of Lawyers (DNFBPS), 2021.
The laws require legal professionals to disclose certain information which, the PBC considers, are patently against the Constitution and the substantive law. The communication between the client and counsel could not be breached directly or indirectly, said an announcement issued after the 233rd meeting of the council.
Presided over by PBC vice chairman Khushdil Khan, the meeting was held here at the Supreme Court building.
The meeting deliberated on the provisions contained in the draft bills pertaining to “The Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism Regulations for Lawyers and other independent Legal Professions, 2021, and Oversight Body Regulations for Self-Regulatory Body of Lawyers, 2021”.
According to the announcement, the PBC as well as the legal fraternity throughout the country reject these proposed amendments.
Besides, the PBC said that in view of the gravity of the situation and precious time of the law graduates, the council unanimously decided that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) will conduct the Law Graduates Assessment Test (LAW-GAT), without delay. The examination is scheduled to be held on May 30, 2021.
In this regard, Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan, who also heads the PBC, approached the NCOC and HEC for considerate relaxation and to ensure holding of the examination on May 30.
Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2021
