Former SCBA president Asma Jahangir (L) claps after unofficial result of presidential seat declared victory of Mian Israrul Haq (R) in Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for the year 2012-13 at Lahore High Court on Wednesday. – Photo by INP

ISLAMABAD: Asma Jahangir and Yassen Azad backed candidates Mian Israrul Haq and Raja Javed Iqbal were elected president and secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) respectively on Wednesday, DawnNews reported.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and the outgoing SCBA president among others felicitated both the candidates on their success.

Azad, in his message of felicitation to them, said that the victory was a manifestation of the confidence the legal fraternity had in their professional and leadership abilities.

He expressed the hope that during their tenure, the newly elected president and secretary SCBA would continue working for the betterment and welfare of lawyers' community.

Members of the Pakistan Bar Council also congratulated Mian Israrul Haq and Raja Javed Iqbal on their victory.

Speaking to media representatives, after unofficial results was out, Asma Jahangir advised the losing candidates to accept the results with dignity and pride.

Earlier, the polling of the SCBA’s annual elections for 2012-13 concluded peacefully.

Around 2,592 registered SCBA voters cast their vote at nine polling stations, one each was set up in Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur and Islamabad.

Former SCBA president Aitzaz Ahsan, Senator Kazim Khan and others voted from Lahore.

The SCBA body consists of one president, four vice-presidents (one from each province), a secretary, an additional secretary, a finance secretary and 14 members elected from throughout Pakistan (at least two from each province).

At least 57 candidates were contesting for 21 remaining slots except vice president Khyber Pakhtunkhwa slot who had been elected unopposed.

The slot of president is reserved for Punjab this year and three candidates were in the contest, including Ahmed Awais, Mian Israrul Haq and Zafarullah Khan.

Independent Democratic Group was supporting Haq for the presidential slot and it enjoyed the support of SCBA's former president Asma Jahangir and the outgoing president Yasin Azad. Whereas Ahmed Awais was backed by Hamid Khan Group.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.