Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973 — section 22

22. Right of advocates to practice..—(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, no person shall be entitled to practice the profession of law unless he is an advocate. [(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the Rules made thereunder,

(a)an advocate of the Supreme Court shall be entitled as of right to practice throughout Pakistan and to appear, act and plead before any Court or Tribunal or any Judicial authority in Pakistan;

(b)an advocate of a High Court shall be entitled as of right to practice throughout Pakistan and to appear, act and plead before any Court, Tribunal or any Judicial authority in Pakistan except the Supreme Court; and

(c)any other advocate shall be entitled as of right to practice throughout the Province [and Islamabad Capital Territory] where he is enrolled to appear, act and plead before any Court, Tribunal or any Judicial authority in such Province [and Islamabad Capital Territory] other than the High Court. (2A) Where rules have been made by any High Court regulating the conditions subject to which advocates of other High Courts may be permitted to practice in the High Court, such advocates shall not be entitled to practice therein otherwise than subject to such conditions].

(3)No advocate shall appear or act for any person in any Court or tribunal unless he has been appointed for the purpose by such person by a document in writing signed by such person or his recognized agent or some other person duly authorized by him to make such appointment, and such document has been filed in such Court or tribunal: Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to

(a)a public Prosecutor or any advocate appointed by the state; or

(b)an advocate when appearing on behalf of another advocate, if the advocate so appearing has filed a memo of appearance: Provided further that an advocate may be allowed to appear for an accused in custody on his undertaking to file the document required under this sub-section.