ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has finalised arrangements to hold its elections on December 22 and at the same time invisible elements are also working to lead the candidates of their choice to victory stand.
According to some senior lawyers, in the scenario of the government-judiciary relations which have been fluctuating over a few months, a great importance is being attached to the PBC elections in which political interference and spending of huge money under political considerations have also been observed. Personal friendship and group support are also working to lead the candidates to victory.
Various quarters revealed the candidates were wooing the voters with lavish foods, gifts and money. Some candidates are even meeting their other material needs, because the role of the PBC has become significant in the enrolment of lawyers for legal practice in the Supreme Court and the appointment of superior courts’ judges.
Attorney General for Pakistan Moulvi Anwarul Haq, who is ex-officio chairman of the PBC and also the returning officer for the election, has appointed all the four advocates general as presiding and polling officers at different polling stations set up in their respective offices in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta high courts’ buildings. Ballot papers and other election material have also been sent to all the presiding/polling officers.
The voters who are members of the provincial bar councils will elect 22 members of the PBC for the next five-year term, against the seats reserved for their respective provinces. Balochistan Bar Council’s seven members will elect one member against the only seat reserved for the province, 28 members of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council will elect four members, 75 members of Punjab Bar Council will elect 11 members and Sindh Bar Council will elect six PBC members from the province.
The PBC, an apex and statutory body of the country’s lawyers, has already a big say in the enrolment of lawyers for legal practice in the Supreme Court and watches advocates’ disciplinary matters.
The PBC has now also attained immense value for representation in the Judicial Commission for the appointment of superior court judges and elevation and confirmation of the judges of the superior judiciary.
The bar pundits say the upcoming PBC election will be of a great significance for the elections of high court and district bar associations. The PBC also gives input to the government from time to time on legal and constitutional matters. Besides struggling for human rights and welfare of the legal fraternity, the next PBC body will also have to play a judicial and political role in future.
Ramazan Chaudhry, Muhammad Ahsan Bhoon, Hamid Khan, Asrarul Haq Mian, Mian Abbas Ahmed and Azam Nazeer Tarar are believed to be the most favourite candidates to win the seats. The election results will officially be notified on December 31.
