LAHORE: In an escalation of the dispute surrounding the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) recent elections, the Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) has suspended the licences of newly-elected president Babar Murtaza Khan and election board chairman Muhammad Lehrasib Khan Gondal.

The controversy began on Feb 28 when the PbBC suspended the election results for the office of the president, citing prima facie illegalities in the voting process.

Despite this suspension, Babar Murtaza Khan — the candidate declared winner by the election board — allegedly continued to perform official duties and present himself as the elected president.

An order, issued by PbBC Executive Committee Chairman Fakhar Hayat Awan, noted that Babar reportedly ignored the Feb 28 stay order, an act the council described as ‘undermining the dignity and authority’ of the regulatory body.

The order has been passed on an election petition filed by Raja Amir, the candidate for the seat of LHCBA president.

The council cited numerous videos circulating on social media, showing Babar exercising presidential authority despite the legal freeze.

It said both Murtaza and the election board chairman Gondal failed to appear before the council on March 11 to explain their positions, despite being formally summoned.

In its two-page order, the executive committee chairman asserted the role of the council as the statutory authority under the Punjab Legal Practitioners & Bar Councils Act, 1973. It stated that the persistent non-compliance by the two advocates amounted to professional misconduct. Since both respondents are also enrolled to practice before the Supreme Court, the PbBC has directed its office to prepare and forward a reference to the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC).

The disciplinary committee of the PBC will now decide whether to suspend their licenses to practice at the apex court level.

The PbBC has scheduled further proceedings for March 25.

According to the result announced by the LHCBA election board, Babar Murtaza of the Hamid Khan-led professional group secured 6,234 votes to win the presidential slot.

Raja Amir of the Ahsan Bhoon-led Independent group had obtained 3,781 votes.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2026