Vote scramble: Lahore to decide fate of SCBA polls

Close competition expected between Farooq H Naek and Rasheed A Rizvi

ISLAMABAD: Major political parties are scrambling to bag more votes ahead of Monday’s crucial annual election of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

The outcome of the SCBA election is expected to have a lasting impact on the ongoing political situation of the country.

Former SCBA president Kamran Murtaza said that status of SCBA’s president is higher than the head of any political party, adding that the upcoming elections are being held at a time, when there is a threat to the democratic system.

Kamran recalled that PTI’s 2014 sit-in, wherein the body faced a similar situation, and he being SCBA’s president had approached the Supreme Court and to get a restraining order against any extra constitutional step by a state’s institution.  Likewise, in view of the prevailing political situation, major political parties have increased their involvement to secure more votes.

PPP and PML-N have joined hands to support Farooq H Naek, who is the presidential candidate of Asma Jahangir’s group in SCBA elections.

On the other hand, PTI and ex-chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry have thrown their weight behind Rasheed A Rizvi, who is presidential nominee for Hamid Khan’s Group. Close contest is expected between both candidates.

Polling will take place in major cities of the country but the result from Lahore will be decisive because half of the voters of SCBA are registered there.

The PLF, which is PPP’s legal wing, is active in every bar association of the country. Though the PPP has limited political presence in Punjab it is still alive in the bars and.

PPP lawyer Javed Hashmi, who is executive member of Punjab Bar Council, told The Express Tribune that senior leaders and lawyers are active for Naek’s victory and said that the former-premier Yousaf Raza Gillani was personally calling lawyers to gain their support.

Renowned lawyer Akram Sheikh has also announced support for Naek.

Meanwhile, active advocate Ali Ahmad Kurd, who was the supporter of Asma’s group, is backing Rasheed A Rizvi.

Hamid Khan’s group claims that Rizvi has an edge over Naek because of the backing of senior lawyers like Munir A Malik, Farogh Nasim, Anwar Mansoor Khan, Abid Zubeiri in Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2016.