LAHORE: In an anticipated victory, former law secretary Pir Masood Chishti of Asma Jahangir-led Independent Group, was elected president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association for year 2015-16 in annual polls held on Saturday with the electronic voting system.

According to official results, Mr Chishti bagged 4,053 votes against 3,118 secured by his rival candidate, Shahid Maqbool Sheikh, of Hamid Khan-led Professional group.

Muhammad Irfan Arif Sheikh notched vice-president’s slot obtaining 4,309 votes and his rival Sofia Masood got 2,805 votes.

Muhammad Ahmad Qayum, son of former LHC judge Malik Mohammad Qayum, was elected secretary with 3,751 votes. His opponent Mian Asghar Ali secured 3,392 votes.

Syed Akhtar Hussain Sheerazi was elected finance secretary with 2,628 votes cast in his favour. The defeated candidates Azeem Akram, Nabila Manzoor and Amina Ajmal bagged 1,682, 1,445 and 1,395 votes, respectively.

Supporters of Mr Chishti celebrated the victory by dancing to drum beat as the election board announced the official result and showered him with rose petals, chanting slogans in favor of their group.

Pakistan Bar Council vice chairman Azam Nazir Tarar, its members Ahsan Bhoon, Burhan Moazam Malik, who are the main leaders of Independent Group, were also present on the occasion.

In his victory speech, Mr Chishti vowed to strive for welfare of legal fraternity. He said the bar would maintain supremacy of law and the Constitution in the country.

Talking to the media, Election Board deputy chairman Tahir Munir Malik said holding the election through biometric voting system for the first time was a good experience for the bar. He urged all other bars in the country to also adopt the technique to ensure transparency.

About 7,300 votes were cast out of total 19,672. As many as 5,800 voters cast their vote through biometric system, while 1,500 went for manual balloting.

A reception will be held on Feb 2 in the honour of the newly-elected bar cabinet. The outgoing cabinet will hand over the charge to its successor.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif congratulated the newly-elected President of LHCBA Pir Masood Chishti and his cabinet members.

In a message, the chief minister expressed good wishes for the bar’s new leadership. Judicial Activism Penal Chairman Azhar Siddique also congratulated the new cabinet of the bar.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play