LAHORE, Feb 12: The group of lawyers headed by Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf Wahla may emerge as a vital factor in deciding the fate of election of the Lahore High Court Bar Association.

The largest and premier bar of the country is scheduled to chose its leadership for the next year on Feb 28. The Wahla group has assumed so much importance because it is still undecided whom to support for the office of bar president. Ahmad Awais and Khwaja Saeeduz Zafar are in the run for the coveted post.

Both the parties are said to be making frantic efforts for winning over the influential group in a situation where senior lawyers predict a tough contest without counting the Wahla factor.

Some quarters feel that the group's winning streak in several bars across the Punjab was because of Chaudhry Wahla's association with another strong group headed by former Supreme Court bar president Hamid Khan.

The two powerful leaders parted ways recently and supported rival candidates in the election of Punjab Bar Council's vice-chairperson and its executive committee towards the end of 2003.

Renewed efforts are understood to have been initiated for the two groups' working in unison and the interested parties are waiting for a result with fingers crossed.

Nevertheless, a positive outcome may not go in favour of Khwaja Saeed who enjoys the support of groups opposed to Hamid Khan, as the latter is supporting Mr Awais.

Members of the Wahla group have already given a mandate to Mr Wahla to take a decision. This group is believed to have withheld a decision with the avowed objective of giving a surprise gift to one of the candidates because its support would mean sure victory.