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LAHORE, Jan 10: As the date for the Lahore Bar Association polls, to be held on Jan 13, gets closer the election scene seems to have cleared to a great degree and the strength of the contesting candidates stands more or less exposed.
The results of the election, which has primarily been dominated by the factors like ‘biradari’, caste and personal influence, are expected to be affected by the Supreme Court Bar Association re-poll, held on Dec 18.
The Professional Group, headed by Hamid Khan and Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf Wahla, swept the SCBA second vote.
The slots for which a tough contest seems likely include two vice-president seats and as many of the secretary. The vice-president’s election seems easy as only three candidates are in the fray. Of them, Mian Asmatullah is the candidate of Arain baradari which has formed the only penal in the contest along with Zahoor Ahmad Nasir for president slot and Tahir Amin Chaudhry for that of the secretary. Main Asmatuallahl is pitted against Mohammad Aasim Cheema, who enjoys the support of ‘Jats’, and Iftikhar Ahmad Bhatti. Another vice-president will be elected from Model Town courts from among Sheikh Yasir Ali and Chaudhry Shahid Qamar.
As for two slots of the secretary, there are five candidates in the field. But, the actual contest seems to be between Tahir Amin Chaudjry of the Arain baradri panel, and Shamim Ahmad Malik, who has the covert support of the Professional Group. Mohammad Rashed Lodhi and Abdul Lateef Sara are also in the contest. Ms Chanda Jameel and Robinson are in contest for the lone seat of joint secretary.
PRESIDENT: There is a straight contest for president’s slot between Syed Mohammad Shah of the Professional Group of Lawyers and Zahoor Ahmad Nasir who is a nominee of the Progressive Group headed by Malik Mohammad Qayyum and PPP senator Sardar Mohammad Lateef Khan Khosa. Mohammad Shah had lost the same election last year. However, this time he has reportedly conducted his electioneering well. Mr Nasir withdrew his candidature last year upon the request of Malik Qayyum who was then an ally of Ashraf Wahla and the two had announced their support for Imran Masood who won. Later, Ashraf Wahla parted ways with Malik Qayyum to form an alliance with Hamid Khan.
Library secretary and auditor have since been elected un-opposed and so is the 11-member executive committee whose members were supported through a secret ballot.
ELECTORATE: The bar has a membership of around 12,000 but only 7,043 lawyers have got registered themselves as voters.
Polling will be held at the district nazim office, formerly known as district courts, between 9am and 5pm. One more polling station has been set up for elections this time raising their number to three.
