MULTAN: To identify the faith of voters and candidates, the District Bar Association has made it mandatory to submit declaration related to the finality of the Prophet.

The DBA elections are going to be held today (Saturday). There are 16 candidates for five slots of president, general secretary, finance secretary and two vice presidents while joint secretary and 10 members of executive council have already been elected unopposed.

Advocate Shahbaz Khan Gurmani termed the move illegal and unethical, saying it might create a hostile environment against the minorities. He said bar members from minorities would disassociate themselves from contesting election and casting their vote.

He said that according to the constitution of Pakistan the move was illegal as no one could be discriminated against on the basis of faith while there was also no such bar on contesting the election by the Pakistan Bar Council and Punjab Bar Council. Bar President Nazim Khan said that the decision was not taken on the request of voters. “It has been made mandatory for the candidates only,” he said.

He said that Pakistan Bar Council and Punjab Bar Council could undo the move or anybody could challenge it in court.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2020