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LAHORE The president and vice-president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) were physically removed from their offices by their opponents on Friday despite winning a vote of confidence by a clear majority of the bar members.
President Munawwar Iqbal Gondal and vice-president Mian Jameel Akhtar had returned to their officers after attending a general house meeting at which a resolution was heard on whether fresh elections should be held or not.
A large majority of the members had, through a show of hands, voted in favour of Gondal's ongoing presidency and LHCBA Secretary Muqtadir Akhtar Shabbir declared the resolution passed and the meeting adjourned.
The announcement sparked off ugly scenes as Gondal's opponents, backed by the Hamid Khan's Professional Group faced off with Gondal's supporters, raised slogans and later physically invaded the dais and assaulted Gondal and his supporters. After some time, Gondal and Akhtar retreated to their office where they were eventually pulled out by their opponents. During the melee, windows and furniture were smashed while some lawyers also sustained minor injuries.
Advocates Ahmad Awais, Rai Nawaz Kharal, Shafqat Chauhan and Manzoor Gilani were at the forefront of the agitation.
Later, Awais claimed that Gondal was a supporter of judges who took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order, therefore, elections must go ahead as proposed on Saturday.
Gondal issued a statement claiming that his opponents work for intelligence agencies. Gondal said he and his administration were all legitimately elected and their opponents' actions had undermined the credibility of the legal community.
The People's Lawyers Forum (PLF) endorsed the bar administration's position. In a statement, the PLF said over the course of the LHCBA's 120-year history, vice-presidents had always taken the place of presidents in case they vacated the office.
Saeed Ansari, chairman of the proposed election board, said the election must go ahead for the sake of democracy.
The candidates are Justice Nasira Iqbal (retired), Nisar Khosar and Rana Saeed.
