The government has decided to amend 'Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Act, 1973' to make provisions for Bar Council for Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and other related matters, sources in Law Ministry told Business Recorder.
The Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Act, 1973 was amended by the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 during the proclamation of emergency of the 3rd day of November, 2007, whereby the powers of Bar Councils in the disciplinary matters relating to advocates were drastically curtailed. However, through an Ordinance No VIII of 2008, the powers of Bar Councils were restored but the Ordinance although laid in the National Assembly has also lapsed.
In view of the establishment of Islamabad High Court (IHC) it has become expedient to amend the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973 to make provisions for Bar Council for Islamabad Capital Territory and other related matters. On introduction of proposed Bill, Ordinance VIII of 2008, laid in the National Assembly, shall be withdrawn.
The salient features of the Bill are as follows : (i) There shall be a Bar Council for Islamabad Capital Territory which shall be known as "Potohar Bar Council"; (ii) first elections to Potohar Bar Council shall be held within sixty days of the commencement of the Legal Petitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2010;(iii) the number of members of Potohar Bar Council shall be five including one seat for women;(iv) there shall be one member from Islamabad Capital Territory in the Pakistan Bar Council; and (iv) Attorney General for Pakistan shall be the Chairman of Potohar Bar Council.