Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Qazi Faez Isa expressed anger to a lawyer and asked if the law colleges of Punjab did not teach drafting on Tuesday.
Hearing a land dispute case in the Supreme Court, the CJP asked when the lawyers of Punjab will learn to write petitions, commenting that these documents are drafted by composers
“Does the law allow a petition to be drafted by a composer?” he asked, questioning where it is written in the law that a lawyer will only stand in court and present arguments.
CJP Isa said the services of a lawyer are hired for writing a plea, verifying it and submitting it.
He also remarked that most clashes are initiated by the lawyers of Punjab and then the rest of the lawyers stand up for them and go on strike. “How did the lawyers get the right to go on strike?” he asked, stressing that the entire system has been corrupted.
“Do the law colleges of Punjab not teach drafting?” CJP Isa asked. “Should they be shut down?”
He further said: “Go to the under-developed Turbat region of Balochistan where lawyers draft petitions themselves.”
The Supreme Court also issued notices to the Pakistan Bar and Punjab Bar Councils for not drafting the petitions correctly. The councils have been asked to explain whether drafting was taught in law colleges of Punjab or not.
The bar councils were asked to submit their responses in writing so the court could reach a conclusion. The councils have nothing to do with the merits of the present case, the court declared.
The Supreme Court ordered to fix the case for re-hearing after six weeks.
