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