SC sends Khosa case to PBC

ISLAMABAD , Feb 26 : Supreme Court has sent the Latif Khosa case to Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) with an order to give verdict within a month in this regard.

Zafar Ali, the counsel of Latif Khosa, and Attorney General Anwar Mansoor in their arguments said that the PBC has been empowered to take decisions on the matter of code of conduct of the lawyers and therefore, the case may be referred to the PBC.

A 3-member bench headed by Justice Shakir Ullah Jan has reserved the verdict after hearing the case. During the hearing, Khosa’s counsel Ali Zafar argued that the court has not empowered to hear the code of conduct violation complaints against the lawyers, while the Supreme Court hears appeal against the PBC decision.

"If Supreme Court hears the case Mr. Latif Khosa will be deprived of his right to appeal," they argued.

They said as only Pakistan Bar Council is authorized to do so, and therefore, as such matters be referred to it.

He said that such cases do exist against many other lawyers and it would be discrimination against Khosa, if the apex court heard the case against him only.

Last week, the SC reserved its decision in this connection. Earlier, NHA’s former official Maghfoor Ahmed and his wife alleged Khosa of taking Rs30 million form them to get a case against them disposed off.