Pro-govt group's man elected as PBC VC

Independent Group's candidate Pir Muhammad Masood Chishti has been elected as the new vice chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) for a one-year term.

Similarly, Munir Ahmed Malik, also associated with the Independent Group, has been elected as chairman of the Executive Committee of the PBC for the year 2026.

The Independent Group, known as the pro-government lawyers' section, has been a strong supporter of the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments, which led to the establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court.

The group has been occupying the apex regulatory body for lawyers for almost 15 years. Ahsan Bhoon currently heads the Independent Group. Lawyers believe the present government also favours the continued dominance of the Independent Group in the superior bars. A member of the Professional Group contended that "powerful circles" have taken a keen interest in bar politics and have supported the Independent Group in nearly every bar election over the past few years.

Accordingly, efforts were made to secure a majority for the Independent Group in the PBC to ensure continuity in its affairs. The 248th meeting of the PBC was held under the chairmanship of AGP Mansoor Awan.

AGP Awan invited proposals for the election of PBC vice-chairman.

Farooq Hamid Naek proposed the name of Masood Chishti from Lahore, seconded by Syed Qalb-i-Hassan. Maqsood Buttar proposed the name of Qazi Muhammad Arshed from Abbottabad as the other candidate. Both candidates consented to the proposals of their respective nominations.

As the election was contested, it was conducted through a secret ballot. After polling, the ballot papers were counted and found to total 23. Chishti secured 15 votes, while Arshed obtained 8 votes.

Chishti, an associate of former federal minister Babar Awan, had previously served as law secretary during the PPP government. The council also elected Munir Ahmad Malik as chairman of the PBC Executive Committee. Malik hails from Karachi.

During the meeting, the PBC strongly condemned the campaign of character assassination against judges of the Lahore High Court and Islamabad High Court on baseless allegations.

The council stated that such actions undermine the prestige and dignity of the judiciary. It reiterated that the legal fraternity will not allow anyone to succeed in targeting the hon'ble judges.

The PBC has always supported and fought for the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary, as enshrined in the Constitution, an official statement said.

It is learned that during the meeting, members of the Professional Group urged that the name of Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri—a Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge removed by the same court—be included in the statement, as he was also facing a malicious campaign. However, Independent Group members were not inclined to do so.