LHC orders five-year audit of private law colleges

LAHORE: A five-year audit of all private law colleges has been ordered by Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice (CJ) Muhammad Qasim Khan, on Wednesday, after it was determined that law colleges were giving LLB admissions to students who had failed to complete their BA degrees.

While the court was in session, Petitions were heard by the chief justice pertaining to the legitimacy of degrees of various present and previous representatives of the Bar Association.

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The legal advisor to the Punjab University, Advocate Malik Muhammad Awais Khan informed the court that the degrees of Advocate Ali Ahsan Rana (who was also the ex-president of the Tax Bar Association), and Advocate Irfan Ahmed (also the vice-president of the Lahore Bar Association Cantt) were found to be fake.

"It is extremely interesting to note that Ahsan Ali Rana had failed his BA when he obtained the admission for LLB at the Quaid-e-Azam Law College, and Irfan Ahmed had also failed when he gained admission in the National Law College," Advocate Awais argued.

It irked CJ Khan who questioned how exactly was it possible to gain admission in an LLB program when one has failed to pass their bachelor's degrees.

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"What will these colleges produce when they are earning 'haram' by giving admission to those who are not eligible," CJ Khan remarked. "This is not a matter of eligibility. It seems to be a matter of fraud," he further added.

CJ Khan then adjourned proceedings until April 6.

Published in Express Tribune on March 18th 2021.