Order

WHEREAS on February 10, 2022, the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (the “MFDA”) issued a Notice of Hearing pursuant to sections 20 and 24 of MFDA By-law No. 1 in respect of a disciplinary proceeding commenced against Azhar Ahmad Batla (the “Respondent”);

AND WHEREAS the first appearance in this hearing was held before a Chair of a hearing panel of the Central Regional Council of the MFDA (the “Hearing Panel”) on April 22, 2022, in accordance with s. 19.13(b) of MFDA By-law No. 1;

AND WHEREAS both Counsel for Staff of the MFDA (“Staff”) and the Respondent attended the first appearance by videoconference on April 22, 2022 to address scheduling and other procedural matters and jointly proposed the following schedule for the continuation of the proceeding;

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. In accordance with Rule 8.1 of the MFDA Rules of Procedure, the Respondent shall provide a Reply to the Notice of Hearing to Staff on or before May 24, 2022;
2. In accordance with Rule 10.1 of the MFDA Rules of Procedure, Staff shall provide documentary disclosure to the Respondent on or before June 23, 2022;
3. In accordance with Rule 10.2 of the MFDA Rules of Procedure, the Respondent shall provide documentary disclosure to Staff on or before July 22, 2022;
4. Staff shall provide the Respondent with a witness list, and for each witness that Staff intends to call at the hearing on the merits, a corresponding transcript, signed witness statements or a summary of the evidence that the witness is expected to give at the hearing by June 23, 2022 in accordance with Rule 11.1 of the MFDA Rules of Procedure;
5. The Respondent shall provide Staff with a witness list, and for each witness that the Respondent intends to call at the hearing on the merits, a corresponding transcript, signed witness statements or a summary of the evidence that the witness is expected to give at the hearing by July 22, 2022 in accordance with Rule 11.1 of the MFDA Rules of Procedure; and
6. Subject to any further Order of the Hearing Panel, the Hearing on the Merits shall take place by electronic hearing on September 7-8, 2022, commencing at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern) each day, or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard.