LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) on Wednesday rejected a proposed amendment to extend the term of the associations to two years.

Addressing a joint press conference along with senior leaders of the Professional group, Asif Nissoana and Mubashir Rehman, the presidents of the LHCBA and LBA respectively, said the bar association elections were held every year and the proposed amendment was an attempt to deprive lawyers of their democratic right.

They lamented the proposal, noting that first, student unions were banned, and now the government wanted to ensure that no one could raise their voice against it.

They vowed that lawyers would not go against the traditions of the bar and would protest at every level. They made it clear that if the bill was passed, a movement would be launched.

LHCBA’s former president Maqsood Butter stated that the legal fraternity would not accept the proposed amendment bill.

“If the proposed amendment bill is approved, we will not be a part of it,” he said, announcing that next year, “We would hold elections of the bar associations across Punjab.”

LHCBA’s former vice president Rabbiya Bajwa said the proposed amendment, if passed, would have adverse consequences for both the bar and the lawyers. She alleged that the government, through this bill, wanted to usurp the lawyers’ right to protest.

Without naming the Independent group, she said the opposing lawyers’ group was engaged in vindictive politics. “The time has now come to launch a lawyers’ movement,” she added.

Mian Abdul Qudoos, Ishtiaq A Khan, Asad Manzoor Butt and Shafqat Mehmood Chohan were among the former presidents of the LHCBA, who spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2025