Chaudhry Tabraiz Aurah
Islamabad/London: Barrister Safdar Iqbal, Director of the International Lawyers Association (ILA), and Barrister Ghulam Mustafa Khwaja have been actively pursuing a proposal to help overseas Pakistani lawyers become eligible for enrolment as Advocates of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The initiative seeks to recognise qualifying legal practice in England and Wales towards the professional experience requirements for enrolment as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Barrister Safdar Iqbal, a solicitor of England and Wales and legal adviser to the Pakistan Overseas Forum, met the Chief Justice of Pakistan along with Barrister Ghulam Mustafa Khwaja to present the proposal on behalf of the ILA.
The initiative is intended to give greater recognition to the professional experience of Pakistani legal practitioners who have qualified and practised as solicitors in England and Wales, so that their relevant experience can be considered towards the requirements for Supreme Court enrolment in Pakistan.
The delegation has also been engaging with key judicial and government representatives in pursuit of the proposed reform, including Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and the Vice-Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council.
The proposed changes seek to enable eligible overseas Pakistani lawyers to contribute their international legal experience to Pakistan’s legal profession, while providing a clearer pathway towards meeting the requirements for Supreme Court practice.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan discussed the matter with Mr Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti, Vice-Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, and referred it to the Council for examination, consideration and an appropriate decision.
Barrister Safdar Iqbal and Barrister Ghulam Mustafa Khwaja are continuing their efforts to advance the proposal in the interests of overseas Pakistani legal practitioners. If approved, the reform could be an important step in recognising qualifying international legal experience within Pakistan’s legal profession.
The proposal remains under consideration, and any change to the existing enrolment requirements will be subject to the decision of the competent authorities.
