PTI secures key wins in bar polls

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed candidates for the president and the general secretary won the Rawalpindi High Court Bar Association (RHCBA) annual elections on Saturday.

PTI's Ahsan Hamid Lillah was elected as the bar's president while Khalil Ahmad Malik was the general secretary. Lawyers celebrated the results with dancing to drums, distributing sweets, and festive cheer.

Independent candidates Khawar Riyaz Qadri was elected as the senior vice president, Malik Shahid Iqbal as the vice president, and Nargis Shabbir Alvi as the additional secretary.

Out of a total of 5,664 votes, 2,670 votes were cast during the polls

In his speech, newly-elected president Ahsan Hamid Lillah affirmed to work for the supremacy of the constitution, rule of law, and judicial independence.

General Secretary Khalil Ahmad Malik stated that they would foster exemplary relations between the bar and bench to ensure swift and affordable justice.

Earlier, the annual elections of the RHCBA witnessed great enthusiasm and excitement, with lawyers showing remarkable energy and passion.

A large number of lawyers from Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Talagang, Chakwal, Mianwali, and Murree districts participated in the voting process. Even female lawyers, who do not regularly practice law after their marriages, came out to cast their votes for their preferred candidates.

The total number of votes was 5,660, with 12 polling booths set up. Female lawyers were also actively involved, working as polling agents. Throughout the day, there was a constant stream of food and refreshments available, including snacks, biryani, palao, tea, coffee, chips, oranges, bananas, guavas, apples, peanuts, and roasted chickpeas.

Candidates and their supporters were enthusiastically lined up, requesting votes from every arriving lawyer as they made their way to the polling booths. The polling started at 8am and continued until 4:30pm.

Senior lawyers and former judges also turned up to cast their votes. Due to the elections, there was an unofficial holiday in all subordinate courts across the Rawalpindi Division, with only urgent cases being heard. No regular trials took place.