Insights Categories: News

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SRO 45(I)/2015 successfully defended under the Works of Defence Act before Lahore High Court

February 24, 2026

ABS & Co successfully defended the vires of SRO 45(I)/2015 dated 07.01.2015, issued under the Works of Defence Act 1903, before the Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench. Several landowners had challenged the legality of the SRO, which was promulgated to ensure the security and safety of areas surrounding notified works of defence. The petitioners relied on various High Court judgments, including PLD 2008 Islamabad 37, PLD 2018 Lahore 295, and 2021 CLC 1378, to support their claims.

Khadeeja Ahmad promoted to Senior Associate

January 26, 2026

ABS & Co is pleased to announce the promotion of Khadeeja Ahmad to the position of Senior Associate. Khadeeja Ahmad has been associated with the firm since the commencement of her professional career and has consistently demonstrated strong legal acumen, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. She has worked extensively on arbitration, projects, and energy related matters, contributing to complex assignments and key client engagements. Her work has also been recognised by Legal 500, where she has been recommended as a Leading Associate.

ABS & Co ranked Tier 1 & Tier 2 in key practice areas by Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026

January 20, 2026

ABS & Co has once again been recognised in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2026 rankings, with multiple practice areas securing prominent positions. The results reflect the firm’s continued involvement in complex and high-value matters across transactional, regulatory, and contentious work, as well as the growing market visibility of its lawyers. For clarity, the tiers referenced in this article correspond exactly to the Legal 500’s Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 classifications.

ABS & Co highly ranked across key practice areas in Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026

January 9, 2026

ABS & Co is pleased to announce its continued recognition in the Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide 2026, where the firm has been highly ranked across multiple key practice areas in Pakistan. These rankings reflect the firm’s strong market reputation, depth of expertise, and consistent delivery of high-quality legal services across both contentious and non-contentious matters.

ABS & Co secures judicial endorsement of PAEC death compensation package framework

December 16, 2025

ABS & Co has examined the recent decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), presided over by Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro, which dismissed five constitutional petitions challenging the disengagement of employees appointed under the Death Compensation Package by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). The judgment affirms the legality of PAEC’s contractual employment framework and clarifies the scope of constitutional jurisdiction in contractual service disputes.

NBP employees are not government servants, rules IHC

December 14, 2025

ABS & Co recently represented NBP in a writ petition before the Islamabad High Court (IHC), where the firm successfully defended the Bank’s position. The Court once again held that NBP employees are not government or civil servants and therefore cannot be described as “Government Officers” on their passports.

Monthly Legal Update – November 2025

November 15, 2025

Our November 2025 legal update reviews recent legislative and judicial developments across Pakistan, including the Civil Servants Amendment Act 2025 and the Lahore High Court’s decision in SNGPL v. Waseem Majid Malik. The update also outlines the constitutional framework governing writ jurisdiction and its distinction from remedies available under the Companies Act 2017.

Misapplication of petroleum laws to synthetic industrial chemicals

November 4, 2025

ABS & Co has examined the growing regulatory concern surrounding the use of petroleum legislation to govern synthetic chemicals and petrochemical inputs used across Pakistan’s industrial sector. As Pakistan works toward economic revival, the correct and consistent application of laws, policies and treaty commitments is critical. However, the expanding reach of petroleum laws into areas traditionally regulated by chemical-specific frameworks has created uncertainty for manufacturers and importers.

ABS & Co secures recovery of money in major cross-border dispute

October 20, 2025

ABS & Co recently advised and represented an international client, based in Hong Kong, in a complex cross-border commercial dispute arising in Pakistan. The matter involved contested payment obligations where traditional litigation avenues risked being both protracted and commercially disruptive. The client entrusted ABS & Co with safeguarding its financial interests while ensuring a timely and commercially efficient resolution.

ABS & Co secures tax relief exceeding PKR 3 billion for KTC from ATIR

October 17, 2025

ABS & Co successfully represented KTC before the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR), Peshawar Bench, in multiple connected appeals challenging substantial tax assessments imposed under Section 122 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. The firm’s tax litigation team demonstrated that the assessment proceedings suffered from procedural and legal infirmities, including the absence of recorded reasons, lack of opportunity of hearing, and non-speaking orders. Upon considering the submissions and documentary evidence, the Tribunal set aside the impugned assessment orders, vacating tax liabilities exceeding PKR 3 billion.

Monthly Legal Update – October 2025

October 15, 2025

Our October 2025 legal update highlights recent legislative and judicial developments across Pakistan, including an overview of the Pakistan Land Port Authority Act, 2025 and the Sindh High Court’s decision in Pakistan State Oil Company Limited v. M/s Gillani (Pvt.) Ltd.

Finance Act 2025 and the operation of change in law clauses

August 6, 2025

The Finance Act 2025 has revised the rate of withholding tax on services under section 153(1)(b) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. Although this is a fiscal amendment, it has practical implications for long-term commercial agreements, particularly in the power and infrastructure sectors where Change in Law provisions are an essential part of contractual risk allocation. The Finance Act provides a useful example of how such provisions are applied in practice.

ABS & Co drafts PCBDDA’s Procurement Regulations 2024

August 21, 2024

ABS & Co has drafted the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) Procurement Regulations 2024, marking a historic milestone in Pakistan’s public procurement landscape. These regulations, modelled on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Public Procurement, represent the first time that any public procurement agency has used UNCITRAL’s globally recognized model law as the foundation for its public procurement framework.

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