VICE CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

Esteemed Members of the AJ&K Bar Council,

Assalam-O-Alaikum

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

I begin this message with a powerful quote by Helen Keller, which encapsulates the essence of our collective journey as members of the AJ&K Bar Council. Together, we have achieved remarkable milestones, overcome challenges, and upheld the principles of justice and integrity.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and dedication. Your tireless efforts have been instrumental in shaping the course of our council and advancing the cause of justice in Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

I am deeply humbled by the trust and confidence you have placed in me as your vice chairman. Your belief in my leadership is both an honor and a privilege, one that I do not take lightly.

As we embark on this new chapter together, I pledge to work tirelessly towards our shared goals. My aim is not only to maintain the high standards set by our predecessors but also to explore new avenues for progress and development. Together, we will strive to achieve objectives that will not only benefit the bar in the long term but also foster stronger relations between the bar and bench.

I look forward to collaborating with each of you, harnessing our collective wisdom and expertise to overcome challenges and seize opportunities. Let us continue to uphold the principles of justice, integrity, and professionalism that define our esteemed profession.

Thank you once again for your continued support and dedication. Together, we will write the next chapter of success and excellence for the AJ&K Bar Council.

Warm regards,

Syed Ashfaq Hussain Kazmi Advocate Supreme Court

Vice Chairman AJ&K Bar Council

ABOUT AJK BAR COUNCIL

Azad Jammu & Kashmir Bar Council also known as AJK Bar Council is a statutory & deliberative assembly of lawyers in Azad Kashmir for safeguarding the rights,

interests, and privileges of practicing lawyers, within Azad Kashmir. It is the highest elected body of the Lawyers in Azad Kashmir.

AJK Bar Council has twenty-seven elected Members from throughout the Azad Kashmir representing each District. The Members of the AJK Bar Council are elected based on a single transferable vote by Members of the District Bars. The Bar Council also elects its Vice-Chairman every year from amongst its elected Members.

The AJK Bar council exercises general control and supervision over the District Bar Associations and regulate the entry of lawyers into the legal profession. The main functions of the Bar Council are to admit persons fulfilling the requirements of law as Advocates entitled to practice before the High Court and Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir band to maintain Roll of such Advocates and to remove advocates from the said Roll. It also enjoys powers to entertain and determine cases of professional and other misconduct against Advocates of the High Court and Supreme Court and to award punishments in such cases. Some of the functions of the AJK Bar Council, under the Act, are given below: –

to prepare and maintain a common roll of advocates.
to admit persons as advocates entitled to practice before the High court and Supreme Court and to prepare and maintain a roll of such advocates and to remove advocates from such roll.
to entertain and determine cases of misconduct against advocates of the High Court and Supreme Court and to award punishment in such cases.
to lay down standard of professional conduct and etiquette for advocates.
to lay down the procedure to be followed by its committees.
to safeguard the rights, privileges and interest of advocates including initiation of measures for fair and inexpensive dispensation of justice by the subordinate Courts and tribunals.
to promote and suggest law reform.
to exercise general control and supervision over the District Bar Associations and to issue directions to them from time to time.
to promote legal education and to prescribe standards of such education in consultation with the Universities in Azad Kashmir.
to recognize universities whose degree in law shall be a qualification for enrolment as an advocate.
to provide free legal aid.
to hold conferences, seminars, moots lectures, jurist conferences and other meetings for promoting legal knowledge and learning in the legal profession.

As the AJK Bar Council function through its several Committees, it has constituted the following standing Committees on different subjects: