Bar, bench differences resolved: LHC CJ

Says he will himself look into matters of misbehaving lawyers

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has said the bar and the bench have amicably resolved their differences and it aimed at strengthening the institution of judiciary.

Talking to reporters after visiting the Lahore High Court Bar Association’s offices and having tea with the lawyers on their invitation, he said the supervisory committee would not look into the matters of misbehaving lawyers with the judges and instead he, the Chief Justice, would himself be looking into these matters under Section 54 of Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Act.

He said already the reference against misbehaving lawyers, Rana Saeed, was referred to the disciplinary committee of the Punjab Bar Council which would decide it in accordance with the law. He said it was not victory for anybody but for the strengthening of the judiciary.

The LHCBA President Rana Zia Abdul Rehman said the CJ was very kind on lawyers and there was no issue between the bar and the bench. He said lawyers were with the judiciary and would continue their cooperation with it in the future. On arrival, the CJ accompanied by other seven judges of the LHC, reached the bar room where large number of lawyers received him. The judges had tea with the lawyers.

The 150th celebrations of the Lahore High Court are continuing and a full court reference is organsied for December 07 (tomorrow) to pay tribute to late judges and legal experts. Purpose of the full court reference is to appreciate their services and pay them tribute.

The LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah will preside over the reference. All judges of the LHC are requested to participate in the reference. The reference will start at 1pm.

Services of former judges, including Javed Iqbal, Abdul Shakirul Islam, Rashid Aziz Khan, Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry, Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, KMA Samdani, Mian Nisar Ahmed, Abdul Ghafoor Khan Lodhi, Muhammad Hasan Sandhar, Gul Zareen Kiani, Asif Jan, Mian Ghulam Ahmed, Abdul Majeed Tiwana, Ameer Alam Khan, Sheikh Abdul Mannan and Muhammad Ghani, and late lawyers Muhammad Ilyas Khan, Khawaja Sultan Ahmed, Hakam Qureshi and Khawaja Saeedul Zafar would be remembered.

admission case: The Lahore High Court on Monday adjourned hearing of petitions challenging enforcement of 2016 admission regulations for private medical colleges letting Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and petitioners (students and colleges) reach a consensus solution of the matter.

As Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza resumed hearing, lawyers of the council and the petitioners stated that the reconciliation process led by the attorney general of Pakistan was in progress.

They asked the court to adjourn hearing for a week. At this, the judge deferred the proceedings until December 13 and extended the stay against display of merit list by the UHS.

Hassaan case: The Lahore High Court on Monday reserved verdict on a petition challenging qualification of Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan, PML-N’s likely candidate for Lahore mayor, as chairman from UC-107.

Justice Shahid Karim reserved the verdict after lawyers of petitioner and Mr Hassaan concluded their arguments. The judge also reserved decision on an application that sought a stay against upcoming mayoral election till outcome of the petition regarding qualification of Mr Hassaan.

Petitioner’s counsel Sheraz Zaka argued that Hassaan was not eligible for holding the office of union council chairman and contesting election for city mayor as he had resigned from his offices at different statutory bodies just one day before filing of the nomination papers for local government election.

The counsel argued that Kh Hassaan had been serving as vice-chairman of LDA, chairman of PIC, chairmanship of Lahore Metro Bus Authority and Orange Line Metro Train Authority before going for the election.