How to write a vakalatnama: the memo that authorises your appearance

A vakalatnama is the written authority by which a litigant appoints an advocate to appear, plead and act on their behalf. Every Pakistani court accepts it under its own rules — the High Courts under their Rules and Orders, district courts under the Civil Courts Rules — but the substance is constant: who appoints whom, for which proceeding, with what powers.

The essentials that must be on the face

Title of the case (parties, case/appeal number if already instituted), the court, the advocate's full name and enrolment details, the client's signature or thumb impression, the advocate's acceptance signature, and the date. Court-fee stamps — one per appointee in most jurisdictions — must be affixed and cancelled by crossing with signatures before filing.

Powers: what you are actually authorising

Standard wording authorises the advocate to appear, plead, engage counsel, file and receive documents, and deposit or withdraw money. Read the printed form before your client signs: many stock vakalatnamas include power to compromise or refer the matter — strike out what the client does not intend, and initial the alteration.

Common counter rejections

Uncancelled stamps, missing enrolment number, a vakalatnama in another suit's name, and signatures that don't match the plaint are the usual reasons papers bounce at the filing counter. In appellate work a fresh vakalatnama is needed — a trial-court authority does not carry upward automatically unless the rules of that court say so.

Nazir's note: wukala vs wakalat

The document is 'vakalatnama' (or 'wakalatnama'); the advocate's appearance is entered on the 'wukala' register. Both spellings appear in reported orders — search 'vakalatnama' and 'wakalatnama' when researching.