ISLAMABAD: In the annual elections of the Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) for the year 2026, Chaudhry Naeem Ali Gujjar was elected president, while Raja Khawar Dhaniyal secured the post of secretary, according to unofficial results.

Polling was held at the Islamabad Judicial Complex, where voting continued from 8am to 4pm, with a break for food and prayers from 1pm to 2pm. More than 4,200 lawyers were eligible to exercise their right to vote for six key office-bearer positions, including president, vice president, secretary, joint secretary, additional secretary and library secretary.

The presidential contest had become a four-way race following the withdrawal of Hafiz Malik Mazhar Javed. Chaudhry Naeem Ali Gujjar, Raja Yasir Shakeel, Mian Arshad Javed and Shabana Rafique were in the run for the top slot.

According to the unofficial results announced by the Election Board Chairman Qazi Rafiuddin Babar and other members, Chaudhry Naeem Ali Gujjar clinched the presidency with 1,214 votes. His rivals Raja Yasir Shakeel secured 870 votes, Shabana Rafique 90 votes, while Mian Arshad Javed received 79 votes.

For the vice-presidential post, Irum Rashid emerged victorious with 1,405 votes, defeating Bilqyas Mahmood Khattak, who obtained 812 votes. Raja Khawar Dhaniyal won the secretary’s post with 1,595 votes, while his opponent Muhammad Sohail Khurshid Gujjar bagged 654 votes.

In the contest for joint secretary, Imran Khan Kakar secured 1,245 votes, defeating Sanaullah Bugti, who received 952 votes. Fariha Jafar Bajwa was elected additional secretary with 1,228 votes against Asma Bashir Bangash’s 948 votes. For the post of library secretary, Darnajaf won with 1,188 votes, while Syeda Nazish Naqvi secured 1,029 votes.

Strict security arrangements were in place at the judicial complex in view of the elections. Additional security personnel were deployed, strict checking was carried out at entry points, and the entry of unrelated persons into the premises was completely banned to ensure a smooth polling process.

Following the announcement of the results, lawyers supporting the successful candidates raised slogans and celebrated their victory. The newly elected office-bearers thanked the legal fraternity for their support and pledged to take concrete steps for the welfare and betterment of lawyers.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2026