• Asks bar associations, councils to take strict action against delinquent advocates
• Commends district judiciary for showing courage against pressure

KARACHI: Condemning unethical and illegal practices on the part of various members of the legal fraternity, the Sindh High Court has ordered the provincial home minister to constitute a joint investigation team (JIT) to comprehensively investigate the allegations of blackmailing and illegal activities levelled against various lawyers.

A single-judge bench of the SHC headed by Justice Omar Sial said that the JIT, to be headed by a deputy inspector general of police and comprising representatives of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau and Pakistan Rangers Sindh, will submit its report within 30 days.

It observed that litigants have been beaten on the court premises and forcibly denied legal representation while the district judiciary in Sindh have shown considerable courage in resisting attacks of such advocates.

The bench further deplored that when a court passed the order to curtail activities of such black sheep of legal profession, it was met with frivolous, vexatious and malicious complaints and references.

The SHC passed these directives while hearing pre-arrest bail applications of two suspects Athar Maqsood and Ahsan Ahmed in a rioting and criminal intimidation case lodged on the complaint of advocate Ghulam Asghar Shar last year at the Shah Latif Town police station.

The bench in its order noted that when it asked as to why the applicants had not approached the trial court for such remedy, they replied that they did not reach the court as the complainant and his accomplices had allegedly threatened and manhandled them.

The applicants further alleged that the complainant had lodged many FIRs against various persons and their lawyers had provided a record of such cases which reflected the number of FIRs said to have been registered at his instance, it added.

It also observed that allegations were also levelled against the complainant for allegedly blackmailing people and illegally dispossessing them of their property while personnel of the Malir police station were facilitating his activities.

The bench further said that these allegations must be investigated to protect the noble profession of advocacy from such conduct whereas Advocate Shar did not deny about lodging a number of FIRs, but could not justify them.

It noted that counsel for the applicant have also put on record some photos, circulars and notifications which did not shed a complementary light on the complainant.

It also appears that the complainant had worked for Pakistan Rangers Sindh at some stage and used that as leverage in his alleged activities, it added.

The bench in its order pointed out that it was not the first occasion on which grievances have been brought before the SHC regarding dubious activates of individuals who hold themselves out as advocates and there was evidence of unethical and illegal practices against them.

It said such complaints arise most frequently in the cases lodged under the Illegal Dispossession Act and Section 489-F (dishonestly issuing a cheque) of the Pakistan Penal Code while grievances have also been received that certain persons claiming to be advocates blackmail people by misusing the blasphemy laws.

“It is humiliating for the profession of law that a large segment of the public refers to such advocates as the ‘qabza mafia’. Litigants have been beaten on the court premises on the pretext that one of the parties is an advocate, and litigants being forcibly denied legal representation is shameful to say the least,” it added.

The bench also noted that the district and sessions courts in Sindh have shown considerable resistance against attacks of such lawyers, but it was an open secret that whenever courts passed orders to curtail activities of such black sheep in the legal profession, they met with frivolous, vexations and malicious complaints and references against such judges.

Similarly, it further observed that on numerous occasions, the police have been pressured and intimidated by groups of such persons into yielding to unlawful demands to register FIRs or into unlawful attempts to violate the law.

The bench stated that the Constitution guaranteed equal protection of the law to all citizens and no person or group was entitled to obstruct the exercise of such right by threats or assaults while the functionaries of the state and judiciary must not be intimidated by such unethical practices.

It said, “The writ of the state shall extend to each part of the country. Nobody can claim to be above the law, even an advocate. Similarly, it is incumbent on the bar associations and bar councils to take strict and immediate action against delinquent advocates. The reputation of the noble profession of the law must be protected stringently.”

In the very exceptional circumstances of the case, Justice Sial stated that he deemed it appropriate to ask Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar to constitute a JIT to comprehensively investigate the allegations of blackmail and illegal activities against advocates in question.

Subject to the approval of home minister and provincial police officer and consent of police officials concerned, the bench proposed DIGs Irfan Baloch or Amir Farooqui to head the JIT, which will also comprise representatives from ISI, IB and Pakistan Rangers.

It also asked the district and sessions judges of Sindh, office of prosecutor general, Sindh Bar Council and heads of various bar associations in Sindh to extend full cooperation to the JIT.

While granting bail to both applicants against a surety bond of Rs5,000 each, the bench adjourned the matter for the first week of August and directed the JIT to file report within 30 days.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2026