LAHORE: The Independent group, commonly known as ‘Asma Jahangir group’, maintained its hold on the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for a second consecutive term on Tuesday, as its candidate Mian Rauf Atta was elected as president of the body in its election for the year 2024-25.

Reflecting their respective parties’ postures during the passage of 26th Amen­dment in parliament recently, the lawyers’ wings of the PML-N, the PPP and the JUI-F backed Mr Atta in the SCBA election, while the PTI and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) supported Munir Ahmad Kakar of the Hamid Khan-led Professional group.

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar congratulated Mr Atta and Ahsan Bhoon, who heads the Asma group, on the victory in the bar election, hoping that the new president would continue to serve the legal fraternity.

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The victory of the Asma group is being seen as a favourable development for the coalition government in the Centre as it supported its position on the 26th Amendment, led by president Shahzad Shaukat.

PTI Senator Hamid Khan was hoping to launch a countrywide lawyers’ movement to restore the ‘independence’ of the judiciary after winning the SCBA polls.

His group has been accusing the government of clipping the powers of the judiciary by bringing the amendment.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, winner Mr Atta said, “I thank all the professional lawyers.” He said there would be no compromise on the respect of the black coat, adding that his group had always upheld the supremacy of the Constitution and the law. “We will continue our struggle for the Constitution and the law in the future as well,” he added.

Mr Bhoon said the victory was for everyone. He said the lawyers believed in the supremacy of the Constitution and the law. He said the parliament is supreme and has the right to create and amend the Constitution. He maintained that there would be no compromise on the dignity of the judiciary and interference in institutions won’t be tolerated.

“Our opponents have been making a lot of noise as they are representatives of a political party. We, as lawyers, speak about the Constitution and the law,” Mr Bhoon said.

According to unofficial results, Mr Atta secured 558 votes, while Mr Kakar bagged 483 votes from Lahore, where a total of 1,042 SCBA members cast their votes.

In Peshawar, Mr Atta and Mr Kakar secured 127 and 125 votes, respectively. Mr Atta also won from Multan with 125 votes against his opponent’s 85.

In the 2024 elections, both candidates belonged to Balochistan as per rotation policy for the SCBA president’s slot.

Salman Mansoor of the Professional group was elected secretary by defeating Malik Zahid Awan of the Independent group. Mr Mansoor was a runner-up last year for the same position.

The official results would be announced after a few days in Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2024