Balochistan High Court Forms 5-Member Larger Bench in Key Case on Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act

Quetta (Daily Qudrat): The Balochistan High Court has constituted a five-member larger bench to hear an important constitutional matter involving the interpretation of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973.
A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mullahkhail and Justice Najamuddin Mengal referred the case to a larger bench, noting that the issue carries far-reaching legal implications.
During the hearing, the Additional Advocate General representing the Government of Balochistan requested time to submit a response, while the Secretary of the Balochistan Provincial Bar Council also sought copies of the petition and additional time to file comments.
The court was informed that notices issued to members of the Enrollment Committee were either not received or the concerned officials failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons. The bench also noted the absence of certain committee members despite service of notices.
The court allowed an application for intervention filed by Advocate Rahim Khan Baloch under Order I Rule 10 of the Civil Procedure Code, permitting him to join the proceedings. The court also directed that all parties be provided copies of the petition to ensure smooth progress of the case.
Considering the legal significance of the matter, the court ordered that notices be issued to the Attorney General for Pakistan and the Advocate General Balochistan under Order XXVII-A CPC to assist the court.
The larger bench will be headed by the Chief Justice and include senior judges Iqbal Ahmed Kasi, Shaukat Ali Rakhshani, Gul Hassan Tareen, and Muhammad Amir Nawaz Rana.
The court directed that the case be fixed for hearing on May 6, 2026, and ordered that all relevant notices be issued to the Attorney General, Advocate General, and concerned parties. The interim order previously issued was also extended until the next hearing.