SCBA elections to be held today

Professional and Independent groups claim victory ahead of the contest

ISLAMABAD:

The annual election of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) will be held on Thursday (today), with both the Professional and Independent groups claiming victory ahead of the polls.

In the backdrop of the current situation in the superior judiciary following the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the upcoming SCBA election holds significant importance. There are even reports that the government plans to table the 27th Constitutional Amendment after the provincial bar council elections.

A contest has emerged between Toufiq Asif and Haroonur Rasheed for the post of SCBA president.

Toufiq Asif, representing the Professional Group, has been critical of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. On the other hand, Haroonur Rasheed is associated with the Independent Group, known as the pro-lawyers' faction, which supports the amendment.

Hamid Khan, head of the Professional Group, has declared that the current SCBA election will serve as a referendum against the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

During his campaign, Toufiq Asif has vowed to resist executive interference in the judiciary. In contrast, the Independent Group is focusing on lawyers' welfare, highlighting ongoing projects such as the Lawyers' Housing Society in Islamabad.

The total number of votes in the SCBA election stands at 4,379. An enrollment committee headed by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail has enrolled 453 new lawyers for practice in the Supreme Court—votes that are expected to play a decisive role.

Both groups continue to claim victory.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Awami National Party (ANP) are supporting the Independent Group's candidate, while the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) are backing Toufiq Asif, who is himself affiliated with JI.

It is widely acknowledged that Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has managed to secure the support of most superior bar associations in favour of the government.