Voting is underway for the Islamabad Bar Council elections and voting is scheduled to continue until 4 p.m. Over 6,000 lawyers are eligible to cast their votes for five seats, with each voter allowed to choose up to five candidates.
Twenty judges, including district and sessions judges from east and west, are acting as presiding and polling officers, while 20 polling booths have been set up across the city to facilitate voters. Tight security arrangements have been put in place at the District Judicial Complex and the courts remain closed today, with duty judges overseeing the proceedings. Counting begins immediately after voting closes, with results announced at each booth.
Read: Hazara lawyers prepare for bar polls
A total of 21 candidates are running for the five places. Notable participants include Abdul Rehman Bajwa, Asif Irfan, Chaudhry Hafizullah Yaqub, Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf Gujar, Chaudhry Talat Mehmood Anjum, Faisal Yunus Abbasi and former Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Raiyat Ali Azad, among others.
The elections follow standard voting procedures observed in other bar councils. In previous polls across Punjab, changes in the appointment of presiding officers led to objections from independent lawyers, highlighting the sensitivity and high stakes of such contests.
Read more: Voting scheme issued for attorney votes
Measures for the convenience of voters include the establishment of 20 polling stations across the city, allowing for orderly voting and ensuring that each box can accommodate a large number of voters efficiently. Lawyers will cast their votes exclusively, with general public access restricted to maintain order.
The Islamabad Bar Council elections for the 2025-2030 term are being closely watched by the legal community as a key event in the capital’s legal politics.
