IHC withdraws contempt of court notice against IHCBA secretary general.

Byline: SHAHID RAO

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Thursday withdrew contempt of court notices issued to Umair Baloch Advocate secretary general Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) for disrupting judicial proceedings.

A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice of IHC Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing of the matter and withdrew the contempt notices after Baloch and office bearers of various bars appeared before the court and regretted the incident.

During the hearing, Syed Amjad Shah, Vice Chairman Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Haroon-ur-Rasheed, Vice Chairman, Islamabad Bar Council, Raja Inam Amin Minhas President Islamabad High Court Bar Association and Ch. Khanzada President District Bar Association Islamabad along with Baloch appeared before the bench.

The IHC noted in its verdict, 'They regretted the incident and assured that the Bar Councils at all times will uphold the dignity and decorum of the Court.'

It added that a strong bar is inevitable for an independent judiciary and to protect and defend the Constitution.

The credibility and reputation of the legal profession depends on the bar councils' role and performance of its duty to ensure lawyers' adherence to the required standards. The bar councils have a noble status and have a pivotal role in building a just, disciplined and democratic society.

Its role is essentially associated with building and maintaining public trust in the justice system, particularly the courts.

'This duty to build and maintain public trust is eroded when the bar councils fail in regulating its own internal discipline. The elected members of the bar councils have an important role to play in the society. They are expected to make themselves role models for the other enrolled members, particularly the young lawyers.

The bar councils have the onerous task to ensure that the canons of ethics and proprietary associated with legal profession are strictly followed. It is the duty of the bar councils to ensure that every enrolled member upholds the...