Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973 — section 9

9. Functions of a Provincial Bar Council [and Islamabad Bar Council]..—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, the functions of a Provincial Bar Council [and Islamabad Bar Council] shall be

(a)to admit persons as advocates on its roll; to hold examinations for purposes of admission; to prepare and maintain a roll of such advocates [of the province [or Islamabad Capital Territory] as well as of each [district]; and to remove advocates from such roll;

(b)to admit persons as advocates entitled to practice before the High Court and to prepare and maintain a roll of such advocates;

(c)to entertain and determine cases of misconduct against advocates on its rolls and to order punishment in such cases;

(d)to safeguard the rights, privileges and interests of advocates on its rolls, including initiation of measures for fair and in-expensive dispensation of justice by the subordinate Courts and tribunals;

(e)to promote and suggest law reform;

(f)to manage and administer the property and funds of the Provincial Bar Council [and Islamabad Bar Council] and to invest any of its funds;

(g)to conduct the election of its members; [(h) to prescribe conditions for the recognition and functioning of, and to recognize and derecognize, Bar Associations];

(i)to perform all other functions conferred on it by or under this Act [and to comply with directions given to it by the Pakistan Bar Council from time to time]; and

(j)to do all other things necessary for discharging the aforesaid functions.

(2)A Provincial Bar Council [and Islamabad Bar Council] may, in accordance with the rules framed by it, and within the limits of the funds at its disposal for that purpose, make free legal aid available to indigent litigants.