Lawyers involved in PIC attack lose LBA polls

Biometric system is used in Asia’s largest bar pol for first time

LAHORE: Asma Jahangir group’s candidate GA Khan Tariq won the presidential slot while five candidates who were involved in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) attack lost their seats in Lahore Bar Association (LBA)’s poll for the year 2020-21.

This is the first time that the biometric system was used in Asia’s largest bar poll. The biometric system had been used in past elections twice but completely failed. At one time two candidates who were contesting on LBA’s presidential slots had been appointed for six months each after the biometric system stopped working during the election.

The lawyers resorted to aerial firing after the winning candidate’s name was announced.

Hamid Khan Group had fielded Rana Intizar for presidential slot who had been deemed an active candidate especially after his name was nominated in an FIR registered against lawyers involved in the PIC attack.

Shakila Akhtar Rana was contesting for vice president seat, Rana Kosar Solahri for vice president Model Town, Saira Lodhi for joint secretary, Ali Imran Bhatti for finance secretary were amongst those lawyers who had been arrested in connection with PIC attack.

The lawyer’s community was divided after the PIC incident as some lawyers termed those lawyers, who attacked on PIC, as innocent, while some lawyers declared their act as heinous.

Rana Intizar, the member Punjab Bar Council, had also delivered his fiery speech at the convention against doctors and judiciary on December 19 claiming he had not been involved in the PIC attack.

While no senior lawyer’s representation was witnessed at ‘convention’ except advocate Ali Ahmed Kurd who had seconded the stance of the lawyers and put the onus on government’s shoulders of not fulfilling its commitment after registration of FIR against doctors. Senior lawyers of Asma Jahangir group Ahsan Bhoon and Azam Nazir Tarar had visited PIC and tendered apology over the incident.

Tariq grabbed 3,055 votes while Hamid Khan’s Rana Intizar secured 2,075 votes. Rana Muhammad Naeem was elected as vice president who secured 2,754 votes.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2020.