Cashing in: Stage set for SCBA polls today

Up to 2,592 voters to exercise their right at 9 polling stations across the country.

ISLAMABAD: The stage is set for the Supreme Court Bar Association’s (SCBA) annual elections.

But much like the national elections, voting for the new leadership for the year 2012-13 today (Wednesday) has not been free from self-praising slogans to entice voters.

“There are a few people who, after the restoration of judges sacked by former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, have started claiming ownership for the struggle,” said prominent jurist and former president of the SCBA Justice (retd) Tariq Mehmood while talking to The Express Tribune.

While commenting on the 2012-13 elections, he said that it was a healthy trend in which almost every member exercised his right to vote. Some 2,592 eligible voters are likely to exercise their right to vote at nine polling stations across the country.

A 22-member faculty is elected annually to manage the affairs of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

The executive committee consists of the president, four vice-presidents (one from each province), secretary, additional secretary, finance secretary and 14 members elected from all over the country (at least two from each province).

This year’s presidential slot is reserved for the Punjab province and Advocate Mian Israrul Haq, Advocate Ahmed Awais and Advocate Zafarullah Khan are vying for the office.

Ahmed Awais, who is affiliated with the Hamid Khan-led Professional Group, had lost the election to Asma Jahangir in 2010 whereas Mian Israul Haq is considered to have Asma’s support.

(WITH INPUT BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS IN LAHORE)

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2012.