Court declines immediate relief, rejects licence restoration request, adjourns proceedings until January 6
The Lahore High Court on Monday deferred until January 6 the hearing on a petition challenging the suspension of advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq’s licence by the Punjab Bar Council.
The petition was heard by Justice Malik Awais Khalid, during which counsel for the petitioner, including Shahzaib Mirza, appeared before the court.
The court issued a notice to the vice chairman of the Punjab Bar Council and sought the relevant record. A separate notice was also issued on the petitioner’s request for interim relief.
During the hearing, the court observed that the petitioner’s licence appeared to have been suspended without issuing a prior notice or providing an opportunity to be heard. The court questioned whether a lawyer’s licence could be suspended without due process.
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Counsel for the Punjab Bar Council argued that the petition was not maintainable and maintained that the petitioner should approach the relevant forum.
The petitioner’s counsel contended that while an action could be initiated against a lawyer upon receipt of a complaint, the executive committee did not have the authority to suspend a licence. He argued that such powers rested solely with the Punjab Bar Council’s tribunal.
The court was reminded that it had earlier directed the petitioner to implead the Karachi Bar Association as a party to the case.
Mian Ali Ashfaq, who represents YouTuber Rajab Butt, has challenged the Punjab Bar Council’s decision, asserting that the suspension of his licence was based on incorrect facts. He requested the court to set aside the suspension order and restore his licence.
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However, the court declined to grant immediate relief and rejected the request for restoration of the licence at this stage, adjourning further proceedings until January 6.
