Karachi Bar Association polls held peacefully

KARACHI: Karachi Bar Association’s annual elections were held on Saturday. Votes were cast by 3,429 lawyers.

While the association has more than 9,000 members, only 5,708 had been given the authority to vote.

Security arrangements on the day included a heavy contingent of police and Rangers personnel. No vehicles were allowed in the city court. Even the lawyers had to park their cars in the CPLC parking lot.

The voting booths were set up in the courts. Four polling booths were arranged in each of the four district courts.

Till filing of this report, Muhammad Aqil had an edge on rival candidate, Naeem Qureshi, with a lead by 160 votes.

The lawyers cast their votes to elect the 21-member body comprising six office-bearers and 15 members for the managing committee.

Polling started at 9 am and continued till 5 pm without any interruption.Legal proceedings remained suspended at the City Courts on Saturday due to the election and the announcement of a public holiday by the provincial government on account of Culture Day.

Former KBA General Secretary Naeem Quershi and Mohammad Aqil contested for the post of president. Six aspirants, Abdul Hameed Yousufi, Dilawar Hussain, Ehteshamullah Khan, Masood Hussain Khan, Mohammad Ali and Tariq Ali Burney, contested for the slot of vice president.

Those contesting for the general secretary’s post included Abdul Wahab Baloch, Khalid Mumtaz, Syed Hadier Imam Rizvi and Syed Mohammad Shuja Abbas. A total of 35 candidates contested for the managing committee.

with additional input from ppi

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2010.