September 14, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 13, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: Election for the post of the SCBA’s president to be held on October 28 is expected to inject a new spirit into the lawyers’ movement if the leader turns out to be Ali Ahmed Kurd, the firebrand front-runner from Balochistan.

“If elected, I am definitely going to pursue the goals set by my predecessors Muneer A. Malik and Aitzaz Ahsan with more vigour,” Mr Kurd told Dawn on Saturday.

Admirers would like him to add fury to the new phase of the 17-month-old movement for the independence of judiciary and reinstatement of judges, particularly Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

“Elections are always elections and should not be taken lightly,” Mr Kurd said.

He said that a tough competition was expected since the PPP-led coalition government was putting its weight behind ex-senator Mohammad Zafar.

Still, Mr Kurd is likely to clinch the coveted post because of the admiration he enjoys in the legal fraternity.

The incumbent president, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan is going to step down after holding the 11th elections of the association for a one-year term though he will continue to be spearheading the movement in the capacity as chairman of the newly-formed National Coordination Council.

The post of the SCBA president by rotation goes to every province and this time it will go to Balochistan, SCBA secretary Chaudhry Mohammad Amin Javaid said.

According to the election schedule issued by the executive committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association, the elections will be held on October 28, while official notification of the results of the 22-member body will be announced on October 31.

Scrutiny of nomination papers, hearing of objections and decisions will be done on Oct 16.