LAHORE, Jan 11: Efforts for restoration of the deposed judges and influence of political parties are the factors likely to determine the results of the Lahore Bar Association election scheduled to be held on Tuesday (tomorrow).

Even though the People’s Lawyers Forum, the lawyers’ wing of the ruling PPP, has not pitched its candidate for the top slot, the differences among the top lawyers’ leadership makes it a contest to watch. Lawyers say the ruling party has not fielded any candidate because it knew the elections would revolve around the campaign for the restoration of the judges.

The two candidates, Rana Zia Abdur Rehman and Tariq Javed Chaudhry, are considered to be in favour of the movement for the judiciary’s cause and many (lawyers) believe that the success of either would not dent their ongoing campaign. However, they understand that the differences between Aitzaz Ahsan and Hamid Khan do not augur well for their unity.

Aitzaz’s recent statement that his support to Mr Tariq Javed would be limited to the election does little to change ground realities. Aitzaz himself visited the Aiwan-i-Adl to muster support for his old friend.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Ali Ahmed Kurd has endorsed Aitzaz’s decision to support Mr Javed who also claims the backing of bar bigwigs like Justice Amir Alam Khan (retired), Abid Hasan Minto, Hakim Qureshi and Pakistan Bar Council member Mian Israrul Haq.

Rana Abdur Rehman, a Punjab Bar Council member, enjoys the support of the Hamid Khan’s Professional Group. The PML-N, the PLF and the Jamaat-i-Islami also have expressed support for him.

Lawyers say Mr Rehman’s past could not be ignored for he has shown selfless support for the campaign for the judges’ restoration. They say he had refused to appear before the post-Nov 3 judges in contempt proceedings for passing a resolution against the judges who had not renewed their oath.

Bushra Qamar, Sahir Abbas, Khalid Chaudhry and Mr Awan are contesting for the slot of the vice president. For the office of vice president, Model Town, Chaudhry Muhammad Akbar Gujjar and Anwar Kazmi are in the run.

Aspirants for the secretary general’s post are Ahmad Yar Chawali, Khurram Rafiq Shaadare and Rai Nadeem Kharal. For joint secretary, Syed Fayyaz Jaffar and Faiza Naeem Piracha are in the run, while Naeem Chauhan and Asif Shakir are vying for the slot of finance secretary.