The Punjab Bar Council has suspended the licences of 777 lawyers for failing the mandatory Law Graduate Assessment Test. The council announced the decision after the lawyers failed to qualify despite receiving additional time.
According to the council, the affected lawyers did not pass the Law GAT. Consequently, their practising licences have been suspended.
The council said thousands of lawyers initially received licences without taking the examination. This exception followed directives issued by the Lahore High Court during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawyers Were Given Extra Time To Qualify
The Punjab Bar Council later directed those lawyers to pass the Law GAT between 2022 and 2023. Officials said the requirement was necessary to retain their practising licences.
Most of the 3,400 lawyers later passed the examination and submitted their result cards. However, 777 lawyers failed to meet the mandatory requirement.
Council Orders Implementation Of Decision
The Punjab Bar Council said it has forwarded the record of the suspended lawyers to the relevant authorities. District and sessions judges, along with bar associations, will implement the decision.
Officials said the action applies only to lawyers who failed to clear the Law GAT within the given timeframe. Therefore, the council has formally suspended their licences to practise law.
