SCBA polls: pro-govt bloc stays on top

ISLAMABAD:

The Independent Group—a pro-government lawyers' group—has won the annual election of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).

Led by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and advocate Ahsan Bhoon, the group secured a crucial victory as its candidate, Haroon-ur-Rasheed, was elected as the new SCBA president by a huge margin of over 400 votes.

Candidates of the Independent Group have also won other seats in the SCBA executive body.

Since 2010, the Independent Group has won 13 SCBA presidential elections, while only three presidents belonging to the Professional Group have been elected in the last 15 years.

Lawyers are debating the reasons behind the Independent Group's continued success.

The result reflects that a majority of lawyers in the SCBA elections preferred welfare issues, indicating that the 26th Constitutional Amendment is not a major concern for them.

Many lawyers are giving credit to Minister Tarar and Bhoon, whose agenda focuses on the welfare of lawyers. They have engaged the legal community through various welfare programmes. The Independent Group is well organized across the country.

Thirdly, government departments are also fully available to the Law Minister for addressing lawyers' issues. Following the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the Independent Group has successfully managed to have several members appointed to the superior courts.

Fawad Chaudhry, who himself is an advocate of the Supreme Court, said personal relationships, campaigning skills, and group dynamics play a significant role in bar elections.

"Ahsan Bhoon and Azam Tarar possess exceptional campaign skills, while the PTI relies solely on the name of Imran Khan. Leadership of the lawyers belonging to the PTI, however, is extremely weak.

"Individuals like Salman Akram Raja and Gohar Ali Khan have no real roots in lawyers' politics, and Hamid Khan's influence has long faded," he remarked.

Some Professional Group lawyers believe that their presidential candidate, Toufiq Asif, could have made a greater impact on voters. The SC Enrolment Committee enrolled 457 new voters in the last ten months.

The committee is led by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and includes Ahsan Bhoon and Syed Qulbi Hasan. Professional Group members are also alleging that the newly enrolled lawyers voted for Independent Group candidates.

The success of the pro-government lawyers' group may have an impact on the 26th Constitutional Amendment case, which is currently being adjudicated by a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. The Independent Group fully supports the 26th Constitutional Amendment.