LAHORE, Oct 30: A meeting of the Punjab Bar Council on Saturday elected Advocate Rai Bashir Ahmad for representing the bar in Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) for appointment of judges in the Lahore High Court.

All the 45 PbBC members who agreed to the name of Mr Ahmad belong to “Friends Panel”, dominant group in the provincial bar which mostly comprises lawyers having affiliation with the Pakistan People's Party. The panel is a rival of Hamid Khan-led 'Professional Group', the second big group in the bar with a strength of 30 members.

PbBC vice-chairman Mumtaz Mustafa, who headed the meeting of “Friends Panel”, told Dawn the name of Advocate Ahmad would be presented before a general house of 75 members on Nov 4 for the final approval. He said the general house was convened taking up two requisitions filed by members of both groups.