The Pakistan Bar Council's (PBC) Legal Education Committee has directed the University of Punjab to immediately halt further admissions into its LL.B programme due to non-compliance with codal procedures. The Committee has also asked the Registrar of Punjab University’s Quaid-e-Azam Campus to provide a detailed explanation at the earliest.
The issue stems from the university’s failure to register its LL.B students with the PBC as required under Rule 4(v) of the Legal Education Rules, 2015. Despite prior communication, including letters dated April 26 and June 24, the university has not fulfilled this obligation. In a letter dated September 27, the Principal of University Law College informed the PBC that the admission process was ongoing and the students' list would be submitted soon.
However, in a surprising turn, the Registrar's letter of October 31 contradicted earlier assurances. It claimed the matter was still under consideration by the Syndicate, delaying the student registration process further. The PBC expressed frustration, stating that the university had already confirmed Syndicate approval in March 2024 and issued directions to affiliated colleges to register their students.
“This repeated back-and-forth suggests that the University is not genuinely interested in registering its law students or affiliated colleges with the Pakistan Bar Council,” the PBC’s letter to the Registrar stated.
The Committee expressed serious concerns over the university’s conduct, emphasising that institutions imparting legal education under the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, are bound to adhere to the PBC's rules and decisions. The Committee warned that non-compliance could result in the derecognition of the university’s law degrees.
As an initial measure, the Committee imposed an immediate ban on new admissions to the LL.B programme. It directed the university to refrain from admitting any students until the matter is resolved. The PBC also criticised the university for failing to provide details of LL.M students admitted over the past five years, as well as information about the salary packages of faculty, the availability of a computer lab, and the status of its law library.
Private law colleges affiliated with Punjab University were also reminded to register their students with the PBC without delay. Non-compliant colleges were warned that they would be summoned to the Committee's next meeting to explain their inaction.
The PBC reiterated that adherence to its rules is essential for maintaining the credibility of legal education in Pakistan, adding that failure to comply would result in serious consequences for the university and its affiliated institutions.