'Form 47 model' will not work in bar polls'

LHCBA leadership accuses opponents of creating controversy to scrap biometric voting

LAHORE:

Leaders of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) have warned that the legal community will resist any attempt to take control of bar institutions through what they described as the "Form 47 model," asserting that such tactics would not succeed in bar elections.

The remarks were made during a joint press conference by LHCBA President Babar Murtaza Khan, LBA President Irfan Hayat Bajwa, and other members of the Professional Group led by Hamid Khan. They said any attempt to undermine the mandate of lawyers would be strongly resisted.

At the same time, the bar leaders said they were ready for a transparent forensic audit of the biometric voting system used in the recent LHCBA elections, provided clear Terms of Reference (ToRs) were issued and the process was conducted in the presence of all stakeholders.

Speaking at the press conference, Babar Murtaza said the controversy surrounding the election results was being deliberately created to dismantle the biometric voting system.

He alleged that the IT in-charge responsible for the biometric machines was abducted on polling day, which led to a temporary suspension of the voting process.

"Biometric systems cannot be rigged; that is why certain elements want the system to be scrapped altogether," he said.

He added that a demonstration of the biometric machines had been given to representatives of both contesting groups a day before the elections and no objections were raised at that time.

Murtaza said the Election Board made serious efforts to resume polling after the disruption and reiterated that the bar leadership remained ready for a forensic examination of the machines if clear ToRs were provided.

He also termed the interference of the Punjab Bar Council in the affairs of the LHCBA as illegal, warning that while the bar leadership did not want to damage the traditions of the legal fraternity, it should not be pushed into doing so.

Meanwhile, Irfan Hayat Bajwa said bar institutions had historically upheld democratic traditions and should remain free from attempts to undermine their mandate.

"It is unfortunate that objections are being raised only against the result of the presidential slot," he said, adding that if the bar had rejected someone through the ballot, the decision should be accepted.

Shafqat Chauhan, a member of the Pakistan Bar Council, also warned that the legal community would not allow anyone to take control of the bar through pressure.

He said the dignity and independence of bar institutions must be protected and any forensic audit should be conducted openly in the presence of all stakeholders.

Earlier, LHCBA Secretary Qasim Ejaz Samra described the dispute as one of the most unfortunate episodes in the 133-year history of the association.

He said the controversy had been unnecessarily created on polling day and argued that if a forensic examination of the biometric system was required, it should have been carried out before the elections rather than after the results were announced.

The LHCBA elections became controversial after results were announced amid commotion and disorder, prompting the rival Independent Group led by Ahsan Bhoon to reject the outcome.

According to the Election Board, Babar Murtaza Khan secured 6,234 votes, defeating his rival Raja Aamir Khan, who obtained 3,781 votes for the seat of president.

However, the dispute intensified after the results were challenged, leading the Punjab Bar Council to suspend the outcome and initiate disciplinary proceedings against certain individuals involved in the election process.