LHC allows LLB admission under new rules

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court on Monday allowed admissions in LLB three and five-year programmes concurrently for the current academic year in light of rules amended by the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC).   

A full bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing petitions challenging five-year LLB programme and age limit of 24-year fixed by Punjab University in light of Pakistan Bar Council’s suggestion. PBC member Ishtiaq A Khan told the bench that the bar had amended its rules allowing graduates of 2016 to get admission in three-year programme of LLB.

He said the bar also decided to abolish afternoon or evening classes of LLB in order to maintain standard of the legal education. The PBC had earlier imposed a ban on admission in LLB three-year programme. 

Different law students had approached the court through Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada against the impugned policies. The counsel argued that it was the fundamental right of every citizen to be educated in law or in any other profession and no rule could be made to discourage people from getting higher education especially by fixing the age limit.

The bench had struck down the age-limit policy and formed special committees for across the province comprising representatives of Pakistan Bar Council, Punjab Bar Council, universities/colleges and respective DCOs/DPOs for the scrutiny of law colleges and academies.

Recovery: An additional district and sessions court on Monday directed the SHO concerned to recover a minor and produce him before the court.

As per case details, Razia Bibi, a resident of Chungi Amar Sadhu filed a habeas corpus petition in the court alleging that her husband Qaisar Ali had detained her three-year-old son Sultan Ahmed. She stated that her husband kicked her out from his house and did not allow her to meet her son.