ISLAMABAD – National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice on Thursday unanimously recommended that the tenure of election of bar associations should be enhanced from one year to two years, elections of all bar associations except Supreme Court Bar Association should be conducted in December after two years and new cabinet should take over the charge on 1st January after the election.
NA Committee met here under the Chairmanship of Riaz Fatyana to discuss different agenda items.
The committee considered the agenda relating to discussion on tenure and election procedure of bar associations. During detailed deliberation, the committee observed that reasonable opportunities had been granted to representatives of lawyers but so far; no adequate response had been received from bar associations as well as bar councils regarding enhancement of tenure of bar association as well as with respect to procedure of elections.
Hence, the committee recommended that the campaign of the election should be restricted to maximum two months before the election date. Committee considered the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Section 5 and schedule) and after detailed deliberations it was informed by the Mover Nafeesa Shah that the Sindh Bar Council had categorically supported the Bill.
Elections of all bar associations except Supreme Court Bar Association should be conducted in Dec after two years and new cabinet should take over charge on 1st Jan
Hence, she requested to pass the same. The committee recommended that enhancement of one seat in the Sindh Bar Council against the District Khairpur should be approved.
The representatives of Pakistan Bar Council and Sindh Bar Council had not attended the meeting. Keeping in view consensus of all members, the committee recommended that the bill as amended should be passed by the assembly.
Committee considered the Legal Practitioners and Bar Council (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Section 5) and after detailed deliberations it was informed by the mover that KP Bar Council was also supporting his bill. Committee observed that no written comments in support of the bill had been received to the committee, hence, the committee deferred the same till its next meeting and for the comments of the concerned bar council to proceed further into the matter.
Committee considered the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Article 51 and 106) moved by Zahid Akram Durrani and after detail deliberations Election Commission of Pakistan opposed the bill.
Ministry of Law and Justice briefed the committee that after merger of the erstwhile FATA, the grievances had already been redressed under Article 51 and 106 of the Constitution. After detail deliberations the Committee unanimously recommended that the bill should not be passed by the Assembly.
Committee considered the Superior Court (Number of Judges) (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Amendment of Section 2 Act XXXIII of 199) moved by Qadir Khan Mandokhail and after detailed discussion the committee deferred the same till its next meeting.