LAHORE: The Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) on Tuesday restored the practising licence of Advocate Mian Ali Ashfaq, who is representing YouTuber Rajab Butt, a day after the Lahore High Court took up his petition challenging the suspension.
The restoration followed proceedings before Lahore High Court Justice Malik Awais Khalid, who on Monday summoned the complete record of the licence suspension from the PbBC and directed the council’s vice chairman to provide the lawyer with an opportunity of personal hearing and decide the matter by Tuesday afternoon.
In an order issued on Tuesday, PbBC Vice Chairman Muhammad Ashfaq Kahooti stated that the suspension of Advocate Ashfaq’s licence violated Article 10-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial and due process. “Keeping in view the facts and circumstances, and particularly the violation of Article 10-A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, the licence of Mr Ali Ashfaq to practise as an advocate is hereby restored,” the order said.
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The PbBC had suspended Ashfaq’s licence on December 31 following a complaint filed by the president and general secretary of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA). The complaint alleged that Ashfaq appeared before a Karachi court to represent Rajab Butt despite a strike called by the KBA.
According to Tuesday’s order, the complaint was received and acted upon on the same day, and a short notice was issued to Ashfaq. The order noted that his licence was suspended by the executive committee without affording him a proper opportunity of being heard.
However, the vice chairman rejected Ashfaq’s objection that the executive committee lacked the authority to suspend his licence, terming the argument “misconceived”. The order clarified that under Section 41(1) and (2) of the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, the Punjab Bar Council is empowered to reprimand, suspend or remove an advocate from practice if found guilty of professional misconduct.
The matter has now been referred to the PbBC’s disciplinary committee for further proceedings, while the council has also directed its office to inform the Lahore High Court of the decision.
The Punjab Bar Council vice chairman referred the matter to the disciplinary committee of the council for further proceedings and directed the office to inform the LHC about the decision to restore Ashfaq’s licence.https://t.co/0e1dgHGCrv
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) January 6, 2026
In his objection petition, Ashfaq had argued that the December 31 suspension order was passed in absentia and violated both Article 10-A of the Constitution and principles of natural justice. He denied committing any misconduct and described the KBA’s complaint as biased and mala fide.
The Karachi Bar Association had announced the strike in protest against what it termed the victimisation of its former librarian, Naseer Muhammad Kalhoro. The PbBC’s earlier order had accused Ashfaq of making statements against the legal fraternity while defending his client, describing them as serious professional impropriety.
Advocate Ashfaq is also known for representing former spymaster Faiz Hameed in proceedings concluded before a military court.
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