Scale of justice. PHOTO: REUTERS
Asma Jahangir Group, which is known as the Independent Lawyers Group, has accused the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Amanullah Kanrani of massive corruption in affairs of the hostel. Kanrani belongs to Hamid Khan Group, which is also known as the Professional Lawyers Group.
In 2011, the SCBA got a plot from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led government due to the efforts of then SCBA president Asma Jahangir. A beautiful hostel was built on that plot at a cost of Rs1 billion.
In 2014, the SCBA invited bids from private parties to convert the facility into a hotel as the hostel was not a financially viable project for the lawyers’ body. Later, a five-star hotel was established there which paid around Rs3.5 million every month to the SCBA as part of a contract.
However, a conflict arose between the two lawyers groups, when the SCBA president, Kanrani, canceled the lease of the five-star hotel in the month of May. Asma Janhagir Group members reveal that instead of giving the contract to any new party, SCBA president himself took over the hostel administration.
They alleged that since May, the hostel is being run by SCBA president’s own staff. Likewise, instead of generating fund from the hostel, the SCBA has faced Rs8.7 million loss in the last five months.
The SCBA General Secretary Azmatullah Chaudhry initiated a campaign against the SCBA president over the charge of corruption and irregularities. Later, the SCBA general body in its meeting suspended Kanrani as SCBA President.
However, Balochistan High Court (BHC) restored him by suspending by general body meeting decision. The high court also summoned the SCBA secretary on October 8.
However, he will approach the apex court against BHC order soon. It is also learned that the majority of SCBA executive members are also backing Kanrani in hostel matter.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Chaudhry said a new committee led by SCBA additional secretary is monitoring the income generated by hostel since September 17.
However, he said, the bar has faced massive loss since May. The secretary said if the SCBA president ran hostel affairs transparently then he should accept the option of a third-party audit.
Meanwhile, the campaign of the annual SCBA election is in full swing.
Asma Jahangir Group has fielded Syed Qulbi Hassan as the presidential candidate while Hamid Khan Group is backing Shoaib Shaheen for the same slot.
Majority of both groups’ representatives are backing Justice Isa in reference case. The election will be significant in the prevailing situation as the government wants to oust the SC judge and bar is resisting its move.
Asma Jahangir Group is mainly campaigning against the opponent group on two issues.
One, they accuse Kanrani – who is associated with Hamid Khan Group – of corruption. Second, they also claimed that Shoiab Shaheen is the candidate of Law Minister Dr Farogh Naseem, who allegedly masterminded the presidential reference against Justice Isa.
The Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Syed Amjad Shah also termed the incumbent law minister as ‘Sharifuddin Peerzada of this era’. He said Dr Farogh Naseem is trying to undermine the independence of bar, therefore, the upcoming SCBA election is very significant.
Shoaib Shaheen has, however, distanced himself from the incumbent SCBA president’s role in hostel affairs. He said he has been nominated by Hamid Khan who is the main supporter of Justice Isa in the prevailing situation.
Meanwhile, SCBA Amanullah Kanrani completely rejected the allegations of corruption/ irregularities in hostel affairs. He said that he was willing to conduct a third-party audit, asking why the opponent group remained silent for the last ten months.
He said he believed that the Asma Group was targeting him to get favour in the upcoming SCBA election scheduled for October 30.
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