KARACHI: The Sindh Bar Council (SBC) has constituted a six-member election board to conduct on Feb 14 the Karachi Bar Association’s annual election for office-bearers for 2026 and directed it to scrutinise the voter list to remove “duplicate membership”.

Earlier, the KBA’s annual election for office-bearers for 2025 had been scheduled for Dec 18, 2025. However, on polling day, more than 9,900 eligible lawyers were unable to cast their votes as the election commissioner was hospitalised due to illness and could not attend. Subsequently, a new election commissioner was appointed, but he later resigned from the post over controversy.

On Wednesday, the SBC issued the order on a complaint filed by lawyers over the former cabinet failure to conduct the association’s annual elections. In its detailed order, issued after hearing the complainants and outgoing members of the KBA cabinet, the SBC constituted an election board comprising six members as returning officers to conduct the election on Feb 14 and manage the association’s day-to-day affairs.

“The Sindh Bar Council through this Executive Committee in lieu of the above shall exercise the management of day to day affairs through its returning officers (Election Board) of the Karachi Bar Association for a period of 24 days with elections to be held on 14th February, 2026.”

Sindh Bar Council to prepare new voter list after scrutiny; outgoing KBA president voices concern over ‘lengthy procedure’

The SBC also directed to the board to “prepare the voter list in accordance with clearance with the council’s ledger and after verification from Nadra/ accountant general and to remove any such member who has duplicate membership or is on the salary from any government or private organisation/ department and printing of new ballots under the patronage of the executive committee.”

The regulatory body also directed that all panaflexes and any illegal constructions within the KBA administration’s premises be completely removed. It further ordered that to appoint any government contractor for repair work or relevant departments be approached to address sanitation issues at the City Courts.

The body ruled that any decision taken by the former KBA cabinet after the expiry of its one-year tenure would be void. It also instructed KBA employees to cooperate with the SBC’s election board, warning that criminal proceedings would be initiated against any employee in case of non-compliance.

Outgoing KBA body concerned

After the SBC announcement, ex-KBA president Aamir Nawaz Warraich flanked with his cabinet members held a press conference and stated that they have no objection if the council runs day-to-day affairs, while the cabinet, he said will only supervise the process. Mr Warraich added that he was to announce the election date on Wednesday but the SBC had announced its decision.

Responding to a question about the SBC’s concerns over the existing voters’ list and its directive to scrutinise it, Mr Warraich alleged that “all this is happening as part of a conspiracy”. He claimed that there had been apprehensions that the elections would be delayed and that the KBA would eventually be taken over.

He further alleged that the “establishment and the government do not want an elected KBA body to take a stand on any issue”.

Expressing concern over the “lengthy procedure” for scrutiny of the voters’ list, Mr Warraich said it did not appear that elections would be held on time.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2026