Balochistan High Court Declares Post-April 2026 Bar Council Licences Invalid

QUETTA – The Balochistan High Court has declared all advocates’ licences issued by the Balochistan Bar Council after April 2026 as invalid and unacceptable for any legal purpose, ruling that professional experience obtained on the basis of such licences shall not be counted.

The decision follows the Larger Bench’s judgment dated August 3, 2026, in Constitutional Petition No. 471/2026 (Mir Attaullah, Member Balochistan Bar Council vs. Chairman Balochistan Bar Council and others). Administrative directives have now been issued to ensure compliance across all judicial forums.

Strict Directives to Judicial Officers

In an official circular issued by the High Court, all judicial officers and presiding officers of concerned Session Divisions, Trial Courts, Special Courts, and federal and provincial tribunals have been directed to strictly adhere to the court’s order.

According to the circular, licences issued by the Balochistan Bar Council after April 2026 “cannot be recognized as valid.” Furthermore, any professional experience or practice claimed on the basis of such licences shall not be counted or considered for any purpose.

Licences Not Acceptable for Any Purpose

The Chief Justice’s administrative directives clearly state that all licences issued after April 2, 2026 — whether for practice in lower courts or the High Court — shall not be acceptable for any purpose. Experience certificates or other documents based on such licences will also be deemed unreliable.

The circular emphasizes that this directive applies to all courts and tribunals across the province.

Pending Enrolment Cases to Be Processed Within 15 Days

The High Court further ordered that all pending new enrolment cases must be presented before the relevant Enrolment Committees within 15 days. This directive aims to ensure that advocates whose cases have not yet been processed do not face further loss or delay.

The court clarified that the enrolment process must proceed in accordance with the law and established rules.

Compliance Mandatory

The Balochistan High Court made it clear that strict compliance with the judicial order and administrative directives is mandatory. All concerned judicial and administrative bodies are required to take necessary steps to ensure implementation.

Background

The ruling stems from legal challenges regarding the legitimacy of enrolment and licensing procedures following administrative changes within the Balochistan Bar Council. The Larger Bench’s judgment on August 3 had already directed the Bar Council to present pending interview cases before the High Court’s Enrolment Committee. The latest circular extends that ruling by declaring all post-April 2026 licences as legally invalid.

Implications for Practicing Advocates

The decision is expected to affect a significant number of advocates who received their licences during the period in question. Affected lawyers may need to have their cases re-evaluated by the Enrolment Committees to obtain valid licences in accordance with the court’s directives. Their professional experience during the invalid licence period will not be recognized for any legal proceedings or official purposes.

Legal circles in Quetta are closely monitoring the situation as the Bar Council works to comply with the court’s orders and address the backlog of pending enrolment cases within the stipulated timeframe.