LAHORE, Nov 30: In order to produce quality lawyers, the Pakistan Bar Council has declared the NTS examination mandatory for getting a license for practicing law.

PBC Vice-Chairman Akhtar Husain said this on Friday at a press conference held in Karachi Shuhada Hall of the Lahore High Court Bar Association. LHCBA President Chaudhry Shehram Sarwar was also present.

Mr Husain said the decision was taken keeping in view the frequent deterioration in education quality at law colleges in the country.

He said a letter had been sent to law ministry to introduce an amendment to the Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Act for the purpose.

He told the media that PBC’s Law Reforms Committee had also passed a resolution seeking amendment to law under which Supreme Court exercises suo motu powers. The resolution was moved by PBC member Mohammad Ahsan Bhoon. He said in a suo motu case right to appeal should be given to the aggrieved party or person.

The resolution suggested a provision for intra court appeal (ICA) for an aggrieved party in suo motu cases. It also suggested an amendment to the rules to allow a litigant to engage counsel of his own choice in review petitions.

Mr Husain said the litigants feel reluctant while engaging the same counsel in review matters before the SC. In majority of cases the litigants felt their case was not pleaded in an appropriate manner by the counsel and they had an urge to engage another lawyer in review petitions.

He said the PBC members would coordinate with law minister for the legislation in this regard.