An amendment has been proposed to the Legal Profession Act to terminate the legal licenses of judges who have been removed following a dismissal motion launched against them.
The amendment was proposed by Parliamentarian Ikram Hassan. The aim of the amendment is to prevent judges removed following dismissal motions to start their own legal practice despite serious offenses that compromised the integrity of the judiciary.
As per the amendment, judges removed due to serious offenses that compromise the public trust and confidence in the judiciary will have their legal licenses revoked permanently. However, judges removed in other circumstances may have their license reinstated five years after removal as a judge.
Several judges who had dismissal motions launched against them by JSC have resigned prior to the passing of the dismissal motion at the Parliament and commenced their own legal practice. However, if the amendment is passed, judges who resign or are removed amid a dismissal motion will have their licenses revoked based on the severity of the offense.