Chaudhry Tabraiz Aurah
LONDON: The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has prohibited London-based solicitor Waheed-ur-Rehman Mian from practicing as a solicitor in England and Wales, referring his case to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) over allegations of professional misconduct.
Mian, a solicitor at M–R Solicitors LLP, is notably the legal representative of Ali Imran, the son-in-law of Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif
Following an SRA investigation dated 23rd February 2024, publicly disclosed on 11th August 2024, several serious allegations have been made against Mian, including:
Failure to Disclose Connections Accused of not revealing relevant associations and interests to clients investing in development projects.
Conflict of Interest Allegedly acted despite a significant risk of conflict of interest.
Inadequate Client Advice
Alleged failure to properly advise clients on investment risks and planning considerations.
Supervisory Failuresُ
Accused of failing to provide sufficient oversight to junior staff handling client matters.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has determined that Mian has a case to answer, and a formal hearing will be held to examine the evidence. It is important to note that these allegations remain unproven until the Tribunal reaches a final decision.
At the time of the alleged misconduct, Mian was practicing at M–R Solicitors LLP in South Woodford, London. The forthcoming tribunal hearing will provide him an opportunity to present his defence, with the Tribunal carefully assessing the evidence submitted by both the SRA and the respondent.
This case underscores the SRA’s commitment to upholding ethical standards in the legal profession and ensuring transparency and accountability in client representation. The legal community and the public will closely follow the outcome of the SDT proceedings.
It should be noted that Mian Waheedur Rehman is a senior leader of PTI and a former president of PTI London. In addition to serving as the general secretary of the UK-based Pakistani business organization UKPCCI, he has also been a director of various companies.
