Islamabad: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar has pledged to implement comprehensive reforms to enhance the quality of legal education in Pakistan, emphasizing its critical role in strengthening the justice system. The minister stated that substantial measures have been taken, including the abolition of evening courses and the introduction of the Law-GAT exam, to combat ghost admissions and improve educational standards in law colleges.
According to Press Information Department, Senator Tarar made these remarks during the launch ceremony of the Annual Report of the Directorate of Legal Education of the Pakistan Bar Council. The event was attended by key figures in the legal community, including Mr. Munir Malik, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Pakistan Bar Council, and Mr. Haroon Rashid, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, among others.
The Federal Minister highlighted the challenges faced by law colleges over the past 15 years, particularly after the shift of legal education from public to private sectors. While some institutions have excelled, the weakening of regulatory oversight has also led to problems. He reiterated the government’s commitment to prioritizing reforms, noting that law colleges are now required to share student data with the Pakistan Bar Council, and failure to do so would result in non-registration of degrees.
Significant changes include the introduction of a five-year LLB program to align with international standards, later adjusted to four years for global competitiveness. Munir Malik stated that the Directorate of Legal Education was established following a Supreme Court order and has taken steps to improve legal education, including collaborating with the Higher Education Commission.
Barrister Usama Malik, Director of the Directorate of Legal Education, underscored the reform process’s goal of producing better-prepared legal professionals to serve the justice system, with a focus on creating a stronger institution for future generations.