ISLAMABAD:
Despite surprising outcomes in several divisions, the government-backed Independent Group is expected to retain its dominant position in the bar, maintaining the status quo in favour of the ruling administration.
Legal experts believe the Islamabad Bar Council election results could have significant implications for five Islamabad High Court judges — particularly Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri — who are reportedly not in the good books of the current regime.
The Independent Group, viewed as the pro-government bloc, secured a majority of seats in both the Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) bar councils. Meanwhile, the Professional Group, known for opposing the 26th Constitutional Amendment, emerged with a majority in the Balochistan Bar Council.
In the Sindh Bar Council, both groups won almost equal number of seats, leaving the balance of power uncertain for now.
A similar situation prevails in Punjab, where both camps claim to hold the majority. The official results are expected after November 6, when the Advocate General of Punjab announces the final count.
However, members of the Professional Group have expressed concern that the results may be manipulated to favour 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 claiming a majority.
The Independent Group now claims victory on 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, particularly those elected from South Punjab.
However, senior lawyers note that the Independent Group has an advantage in forming alliances with non-aligned members in the Punjab Bar Council. They also expressed surprise that, despite PTI’s popularity in K-P, its legal wing could not secure a majority in the K-P Bar Council.
Lawyer Maha Raja Tareen observed that the Islamabad Bar Council election results “will have serious and subtle bearings not only on Imran Khan’s cases but also on the pendency of cases in the lower courts concerning the entire PTI”.
“Following this electoral setback, the prospects for transparency and timely hearings in judicial proceedings have further diminished, and the institutional avenues for Imran Khan’s legal defence now stand nearly obstructed,” she added.
However, Chaudhry Faisal Hussain maintained that the success of the Independent Group “does not mean that all lawyers are supporting 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 Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed for the apex regulatory body of lawyers, which has 23 seats. Members of provincial bar councils are elected for a five-year term.
A member of the Professional Group said they hoped to secure a majority in the PBC this time.
Senior lawyers, however, point out that Independent Group leaders such as Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Ahsan Bhoon are seasoned veterans of bar politics — and, coupled with government backing, make the group a formidable force.
Given the current momentum, observers believe it will be difficult to defeat the Independent Group in the PBC elections.
The conclusion of provincial bar polls is also expected to pave the way for the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment to be tabled in parliament soon.
