Web Desk: In a landmark judgment, the Balochistan High Court (BHC) has declared the controversial amendments to the Balochistan Bar Council Rules null and void, ordering fresh interviews for all candidates whose advocacy licences were processed under the disputed procedure.
A five-member bench unanimously ruled that the interview process adopted by the Balochistan Bar Council was not in accordance with the law. The court held that advocacy licences issued on the basis of these unlawful interviews cannot remain valid.
The majority bench, headed by Chief Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail, allowed Constitutional Petition No. 471/2026 and ruled that the amendments were inconsistent with the Constitution of Pakistan and the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973.
The High Court directed all affected candidates to appear before the competent Legal Committee for fresh interviews. It further ordered that the entire process must be conducted strictly in accordance with the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, and the relevant Bar Council Rules.
The court also clarified that advocacy licences will only be issued to successful candidates after they fulfill all legal requirements, including the mandatory apprenticeship period prescribed under the law.
The judgment is being viewed as a significant development for the legal community in Balochistan, reinforcing adherence to constitutional principles and ensuring transparency in the enrolment of advocates.
