Annual vote: Tough contest expected in LBA polls today

Malik Arshad likely to win presidential slot

LAHORE: Two main rival groups of lawyers are poised for a tough competition for Lahore Bar Association’s (LBA) presidential slot.  Polling for the LBA presidential slot and other positions will be held on Saturday (today) at district & sessions court.

A close contest is expected between the candidates of Asma Jahangir-led Friend’s group and Professional group led by Hamid Khan.

For the presidential slot, the Friend’s group contestant is Malik Arshad while Chaudhry Tanveer Akhtar is representing the Professional group.

Around 6,686 lawyers will exercise their right of vote to elect the president for the year 2017-18.

Officials believe that a tough competition is expected between the presidential slots but Malik Arshad will be the winning candidate as he had the support of young lawyers. However, Chaudhry Tanveer could also not be ignored as he is contesting the election for the second time.

They claimed it is likely the young lawyers will influence the election as they support Malik Arshad.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Arshad said he had support of more than 100 lawyers’ groups, including Lahore High Court Bar Association, members of Punjab Bar Council and Pakistan Bar Council representatives.

Chaudhry Tanveer claimed to have support of Awami Tehreek, Jamatud Dawa, Khatam-e-Nabuwat Lawyers Forum, PML-N and members of Pakistan Bar Council and other groups.

On the other hand, six contestants were fighting for two seats of vice-president and a tough competition is being expected amongst them. It is predicted that Irfan Sadiq Tarar and Naveed Chughtai will win the election.

For the slot of two seats of secretaries, there will be a tough competition amongst Farhan Mustafa Jafri, Malik Faisal Awan and Malik Sohail Murshad.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2017.