ISLAMABAD: The directions issued by the Lahore High Court (LHC) for submission of comments in a constitutional petition seeking enforcement of the Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act, 2023 have allegedly remained unimplemented by several major federal and provincial authorities.
These included Ministry of Law and Justice, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Punjab Police, Anti-Corruption Establish-ment, and leading Bar Councils.
Sources said that Advocate Waheed Shahzad Butt, through constitutional lawyer Muhammad Azhar Siddique, has filed the writ petition before the LHC seeking effective implementation of the Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act, 2023. According to details, the constitutional petition names around twenty respondents including federal ministries, regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, and professional bodies. The petitioner has sought directions for operationalisation and implementation of the welfare and protection mechanisms envisaged under the 2023 legislation.
In its response, the Ministry of Law and Justice reportedly raised preliminary objections regarding the maintainability of the petition. It observed that the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, and the Ministry of Interior are indispensable parties to the proceedings, as the subject matter substantially falls within their respective legislative and administrative domains. It further contended that the petition is liable to dismissal on this preliminary ground alone.
Petitioner Advocate Waheed Butt has strongly condemned the continued failure of the concerned authorities to operationalise the provisions of the Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act, 2023. He stated that despite the passage of the law, its key provisions remain dormant and ineffective; reducing the legislation to what he termed “a dead letter” since its enactment.
Legal circles are closely observing the proceedings, considering the case significant for the future implementation of statutory welfare and protection measures for the legal fraternity across Pakistan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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