LAHORE: PTI-supported Irfan Hayat Bajwa of Hamid Khan-led professional group was elected president of the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) for 2026-27 in an election held on Saturday.

Bajwa defeated Adeeb Aslam Bhinder of Ahsan Bhoon-led independent group, known as Asma Jahangir group, by a margin of 405 votes. He obtained 3,559 votes, while Bhinder secured 3,154.

Interestingly, both had contested last year’s election as independent candidates as LBA outgoing president Mubashir Rehman Chaudhry was fielded by the professional group. Bhinder had stood runner-up while Mian Faiz Ali of the independent group came third. Bhinder was also 2024 election’s runner-up when Munir Bhatti of Asma Jahangir’s group notched the top slot with a margin of over 2,500 votes.

This year, Bajwa and Bhinder were formally fielded by the professional and independent groups, respectively.

First woman to head Multan DBA

The third candidate for president’s lot was Shahid Jamal Butt, who secured 122 votes.

The lawyer wings of PML-N and PPP supported the independent group.

For the two posts of secretary, Shoaib Arshad Bhatti and Malik Fahad Nisar Khokhar were elected.

For four posts of vice president, Tahir Munir, Humayun Zaheer, Asif Kanwal (Model Town seat) and Zahid Mahmood Gul (Cantonment seat) were elected.As soon as the results were announced, the successful candidates celebrated and congratulated each other. The members of Insaf Lawyers Forum and supporters of Mr Bajwa chanted slogans in favour of former prime minister Imran Khan.

MULTAN: The district bar association of Multan on Saturday made history by electing a woman president for the first time since its inception.

In a one-on-one contest, Syeda Bushra Naqvi, affiliated to PPP, won the top slot with 1,143 votes against 873 bagged by her rival Chaudhry Afzal Butt.

Naeem Arain was elected vice president and Malik Saadat Hassan general secretary.

BAHAWALPUR: Sheikh Khursheed Ahmed Sahoo and Muneebur Rehman Bhatti were elected president and general secretary respectively of Bahawalpur District Bar Association.

According to the election board, Sahoo obtained 549 votes against 95 of his rival Rehan Khan Mitroo. Bhatti obtained 589 votes while his opponent Hafiz Niaz Ahmed Gharwan secured 409 votes.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Saleem Jan Khosa was elected president of DBA, Dera Ghazi Khan. He defeated Mehmood Khetran while Khalid Gopang won the slot of secretary general.

OKARA: Ch Muhammad Farooq Sangoka was elected president of the DBA Okara with a majority of 115 votes against his rival Ali Adnan Qureshi.

Asima Gillani and Tariq Naseem Mangan were elected senior vice president and general secretary respectively.

The candidates for other five posts including vice president, joint secretary, finance secretary, library secretaries and auditor have already been elected unopposed.

MUZAFFARGARH: Saeedullah was elected president and Imtiaz Khan Sohrani general secretary of the DBA Muzaffargarh in an election held on Saturday.

ALIPUR: Ismail Khan Gabol was elected president of the tehsil bar for the second consecutive term.

According to official results, Gabol secured 290 votes defeating his closest rival Rana Abdul Karim, who obtained 260 votes. Saddam Hussain was elected general secretary.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2026