' It has been informed that this Court in the case reported as Pakistan Bar. Council v. Federal Government and others (PLD 2007 Supreme Court 394) constituted a five members Committee vide para 21(v) of the Judgment and the Committee is presently nonfunctioning because of the death of one of the members namely Professor Ghafoor Ahmed whereas one of the members namely Mr. Mansoor Ali Shah, Advocate Supreme Court, has been elevated as Judge of the Lahore High Court.
2. In order to make this Committee functional, we appoint Professor Ahmed All Sheikh, Principal, University Law College, Hyderabad, as one of the members whereas Mr. Anwar Kamal, Senior Advocate Supreme Court, as one of the members from Lahore to complete composition of the Committee to the following effect:-- "The Affiliation of Law Colleges Rules framed by the Pakistan Bar Council and any rule added or amended from time to time by it are essential to ensure that the law schools/colleges impart uniform quality legal education.
(ii) The rules framed by the Pakistan Bar Council shall be read into the rules framed by any Pakistani university and in case of conflict former rules shall have primacy.
(iii) The rules do not envisage any concept of provisional affiliation. However, if any enactment, rules or regulation made thereunder provide for provisional affiliation, the same shall not extend beyond the period of one year and thereafter the said college shall stop admitting students for a law degree.
(iv) With a view to improve and update the syllabus prescribed for a professional degree in law, we are persuaded to appoint a 5 Member Committee to be headed by Justice (R) Nasir Aslam Zahid, former Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to examine the existing courses of law prescribed by the universities for obtaining the professional degree and to suggest suitable proposals, inter alia, in the light of the observations made by this Court. The Committee shall submit its report within six months to the Pakistan Law Commission for consideration".
3. As such composition of the Committee, after including the above persons would be as follows:- (i). Mr. Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, former Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
(ii) (a) The Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council (Ex-Officio).
(b) Professor Ahmed Ali Sheikh, Principal, University Law College, Hyderabad.
(c) Mr. Hamayun Ehsan, Principal, Pakistan Law College, Lahore.
(d) Mr. Anwar Kamal, Senior Advocate Supreme Court.
(e) Two members to be nominated by the Chairman Higher Education Commission having the requisite academic background.
3(sic.) Mr. Justice (Retd.) Nasir Aslam Zahid shall be authorized to convene a meeting of the Committee. As the State is responsible to ensure enforcement of fundamental rights of education enshrined in Articles 9 read with 25-A and 37 (Principles of State Policy) of the Constitution, therefore, the Secretary Law and Justice Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, shall make adequate arrangements of funds, enabling the Members to perform their functions and the Members shall be entitled for TA/DA, lodging, boarding etc, as admissible to an officer of Grade-22 under the relevant provisions of rules. The Secretary Law shall also provide facility and logistic support to the Committee to ensure implementation of the Judgment noted herein above and also to discharge its functions, as has been assigned to them, in view of the observation of this Court noted herein above.
4. Let the Committee, noted herein above, convene its first meeting immediately after Eid-ul-Fitr, 2013, wherein they will frame their own SOPs for the purpose of further functioning and for carrying out implementation of the Judgment and if there is any problem in holding the meeting etc, the Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council shall bring it into the notice of the Registrar of this Court enabling him to find out solution either on the administrative side or by putting the matter before the Court for passing a judicial order.
5. We have noticed that at present there are following three sets of the rules on the subject:--
(i) The Pakistan Bar Council Legal Education Rules, 1978 framed under sections 13(g), 26(d) and 55
(q) of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973
(ii) Affiliation of Law Colleges Rule, which have not been framed under any of the provisions of the Pakistan Bar Council Act.
(iii) Pakistan Bar Council (Recognition of Universities) Rules, 2005 promulgated under sections 13(k) and 55(q) of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973.
6. It would be appreciated, if Pakistan Bar Council reconsiders all the rules and promulgate uniform rules under the relevant provisions of the Act for effective supervision relating to the recognition of the University and the Law Colleges and also for raising standard of education. If any progress is made in this behalf, the Secretary Pakistan Bar Council shall intimate the Court on the next date of hearing.
7. Adjourned to a date in the 3rd week of August, 2013. revisions by the competent authorities. Therefore, it is advisable to consult the official sources or legal professionals for the most up-to-date and accurate information.