ISLAMABAD:
Despite surprising results in several divisions, the government-backed Independent Group is expected to maintain its dominant position at the bar and maintain the status quo in favor of the ruling administration.
Legal experts believe the Islamabad Bar Council election results could have significant implications for five Islamabad High Court judges – notably Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri – who are reportedly not in the good books of the current regime.
The independent group, considered a pro-government bloc, secured a majority of seats in both the Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Bar Councils. Meanwhile, the professional group, known to oppose the 26th constitutional amendment, emerged with a majority in the Bar Council of Balochistan.
In the Sindh Bar Council, both groups won almost equal number of seats, making the balance of power precarious for now.
A similar situation prevails in Punjab, where both camps claim to have the majority. The official results are expected after November 6, when the Advocate General of Punjab announces the final tally.
However, members of the Task Force have expressed concern that the results could be manipulated to favor the government-backed Independent Group.
Out of the 75 seats in the Punjab Bar Council, the independent group reportedly achieved unexpected success in Lahore and Gujranwala divisions – areas where the professional group is demanding a majority.
The Independent Group now claims victory in 45 seats.
Maqsood Buttar, a senior member of the professional group, stated that around 40 candidates fielded jointly by their group and the Insaf Lawyers Forum (ISF) won in Punjab. He added that they were also reaching out to non-aligned members, especially those elected from south Punjab.
However, senior lawyers note that the independent group has an advantage in forming alliances with non-allied members of the Punjab Bar Council. They also expressed surprise that despite PTI’s popularity in KP, its legal wing could not secure a majority in the KP Bar Council.
Advocate Maha Raja Tareen noted that the Islamabad Bar Council election results “will have serious and subtle impacts not only on Imran Khan’s cases but also on the pendency of cases in the lower courts regarding the entire PTI”.
“Following this electoral setback, the prospects for transparency and timely hearings in court cases have further diminished and the institutional avenues for Imran Khan’s legal defense are now virtually blocked,” she added.
However, Chaudhry Faisal Hussain maintained that the success of the independent group “does not mean that all lawyers support the 26th constitutional amendment,” adding that lawyers “usually give votes to good candidates in bar elections”.
Meanwhile, both groups have now turned their attention to the upcoming Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) elections scheduled for December.
The professional group is expected to nominate lawyer Salahuddin Ahmed to the top bar watchdog, which has 23 seats. Members of provincial bar councils are elected for a five-year term.
A member of the trade group said they hoped to secure a majority in the PBC this time.
However, senior lawyers point out that leaders of the independent group such as Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Ahsan Bhoon are seasoned veterans of bar politics – and along with the government’s backing make the group a formidable force.
Given the current momentum, observers believe that it will be difficult to defeat the independent group in the PBC elections.
The conclusion of the provincial bar polls is also expected to pave the way for the proposed 27th constitutional amendment to be tabled in Parliament soon.
