LBA VP’s licence restored

LAHORE:The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has restored the practicing licence of Lahore Bar Association’s (LBA) Vice-President (Cantonment seat) Irfan Ahmad Khichi. His licence was earlier suspended by the Lahore High Court after Punjab University stated that he had a bogus LLB degree.

Khichi had approached the provisional bar council of Punjab, however, his appeal was also dismissed. Later, he challenged the suspension of his licence before the PBC, the top regulatory body of the legal fraternity in the country. The appeal committee of the PBC issued notices to the Provincial Bar Council and the Punjab University for their replies within seven days. The committee directed the Punjab Bar Council to restore the name of Khichi on the roll of advocates. The committee comprises Azam Nazir Tarar as its chairman and Syed Qalb-i-Hassan and Tahir Nasarullah Warraich as its members.

Then chief justice Muhammad Qasim Khan had ordered the suspension of Khichi’s licence in a petition filed by a lawyer against non-verification of LLB degrees of the candidates participating in the elections of the bar associations and councils. The PU had told the court that the syndicate had recommended cancelation of the degree of Khichi. The appeal committee of the PBC observed that the LLB result of Khichi was never quashed by the PU, however, some irregularity was found out which was made basis for suspending the licence. “We have been informed that the matter is still pending with the University of Punjab authorities and the result of the subject examination pertaining to the appellant has not been quashed,” the committee said in its decision.

Bail extended: An additional district and sessions court on Thursday extended the interim bail of a woman, Aneela, accused of electrocuting her two step children to death. The court extended bail by August 8 and sought police record in this regard. Police had registered a murder case against Aneela on the complaint of the father of the victim children, Khurram Shahzad. Khurram said his wife had informed him about the death of the children on a phone call. Reportedly, she was annoyed with her husband who wanted to ensure quality education for the children. Khurram, who works at a social security hospital on Multan Road, had contracted a second marriage with Aneela after the death of his first wife. He had two children from his first wife i.e. Abuzar 6, and Eman Shahzadi 4, and one son from the second wife.