IHCBA SG's licence suspended

The Islamabad High Court on Thursday suspended the license of Secretary General (SG) Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) Umair Baloch and issued contempt notice to him for interfering during the court proceedings.

A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah also issued notices to the vice chairman Pakistan Bar Council, president Supreme Court Bar Association and the vice chairman of Islamabad Bar Council for assistance.

The order noted, "Keeping in view the gravity of the aforementioned acts and misconduct, the license of Umair Baloch to practice before this court shall remain suspended till the next date fixed under the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act 1973."

The court order stated: "Today when I entered the court room, Muhammad Umair Baloch, Secretary IHCBA, was forcing the advocates to leave the court. He continued doing so when the court proceedings commenced."

It added that he was asked to refrain from disturbing the proceedings and undermining the decorum of the court but in response, he came to the rostrum and in a tone unbecoming of the conduct of an enrolled advocate, stated that instead of stopping him the judge should encourage the strike while the other advocates who were present forced Baloch to leave the courtroom.

The order further said that it has been reported by other judges that Baloch interfered in the court proceedings by forcing the advocates to leave the respective courtrooms while the aforesaid acts also amounted to depriving the litigants of the right of access to justice.

The IHC bench maintained, "The above acts and conduct of Muhammad Umair Baloch Advocate amounts to professional misconduct and contempt punishable under the Contempt of Court Ordinance 2003."

It added, "The office is, therefore, directed to issue show cause notice to Muhammad Umair Baloch requiring him to explain why he may not be punished under the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003. The office is further directed to issue notices to the vice chairman Pakistan Bar Council, president Supreme Court Bar Association and the vice chairman of Islamabad Bar Council for assistance. The office is further directed to issue notice to the learned Advocate General Islamabad Capital Territory."

After issuing directions, the IHC bench deferred hearing until December 19.