Punjab Bar Council restores licence of Rajab Butt's lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq

The Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) on Tuesday reinstated the practising licence of Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq, who is representing YouTuber Rajab Butt.

The move came a day after the Lahore High Court heard a petition filed by Mian Ali Ashfaq against the suspension of his licence. During the hearing, the court had called for the complete record from the PbBC related to the suspension order.

In an order passed by PbBC Vice Chairman Muhammad Ashfaq Kahooti, he said that the licence was being restored after considering the facts of the case.

Ashfaq’s licence had been suspended on December 31 following a complaint filed by the president and general secretary of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA).

According to Tuesday’s order, the complaint was received and acted upon the same day. A brief notice was issued to Ashfaq, and his licence was suspended without giving him a proper opportunity to be heard.

The order said that Ashfaq had challenged the authority of the PbBC’s executive committee to suspend his licence. However, this objection was rejected, with the council maintaining that it is legally empowered to reprimand, suspend, or remove an advocate from practice, or impose penalties in cases of professional misconduct under the relevant law.

The PbBC further stated that Ashfaq submitted an application on Tuesday, arguing that the December 31 decision violated Article 10-A of the Constitution and the principles of natural justice, as it was passed in his absence and without a hearing.

Ashfaq also maintained that he had not committed any misconduct against the legal community or the dignity of the profession. He described the complaint filed by the KBA as biased, mala fide and driven by certain members of its leadership.