Daily Times

LAHORE: An advisory committee of the Lahore High Court, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, on Saturday suspended the practice licence of Lahore Bar Association (LBA) Vice President Rana Saeed Anwar on his misbehaviour with an additional district and sessions’ judge.

The committee had earlier issued notice to Rana Saeed but he did not appear, upon which the committee suspended his licence. The committee also informed all Punjab courts not to accept Rana Saeed as an advocate and referred the matter to the Punjab Bar Council (PBC) for further action against accused lawyer.

The committee, during its meeting, adjourned the matter of Ferozewala Bar Association President Advocate Asif Bashir Mirza till Friday as he sought adjournment on pretext of being ill. The committee had issued notice to Mirza, asking him to appear before the court to clarify his misbehaviour with a judge.

It was observed that Advocate Mirza, despite being “ill”, was present at the Kiani Hall of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) where a general house meeting was held to discuss the matter of issuance of notices to the lawyers by LHC.

During the meeting, graced by PBC Executive Committee Chairman Mumtaz Mustafa along with representatives of different bars, the lawyers said the LHC could not issue notice to any lawyer over accusations of misbehaviour. They said it was the authority of PBC and they would not accept any such decision against the lawyers.

The lawyers were not inclined to accept the decision of the advisory and termed it victimisation of lawyers.

Alleged harassment: An additional district and sessions’ judge on Saturday directed the Shahdra station house officer (SHO) not to harass Nehum Rafiq, a Christian.

Rafiq moved a petition against his alleged harassment by police. He said that he used to live in Peshawar with his family but due to continuous threats by a Muslim group, he had to shift to Lahore in order to save his life. However, he added, those people were still following and harassing him and his family.

He alleged that Hashmat Khan and Musa Khan along with their colleagues, in conveyance with the local police, were harassing him and his family. He said that he had already moved to the police for protection but nothing was done on that account.

He requested the court to restrain police and other respondents from his alleged harassment.