Hamid Khan group's Munir Kakar receives 1,115 votes in election. Atta wins from nine cities including Lahore, Multan and Peshawar. "There will be no compromise on respect of 'Kala Kot'," says Atta.
LAHORE: Mian Rauf Atta from Asma Jahangir’s Independent group was elected the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) with 1,270 votes, leaving behind Hamid Khan group’s Munir Kakar, who got 1,115 votes, The News reported.
Meanwhile, Hamid Khan Professional group’s Salman Mansoor was elected the SCBA secretary.
The inclusive results showed that Atta won from Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Bahawalpur and four other cities, while the Hamid Khan group could only win from Karachi and Quetta.
Asma Jahangir group is leading on 14 out of 17 positions, while the Hamid Khan Group candidates are maintaining lead on three seats.
Talking to media, the newly-elected SCBA President Rauf said: “There will be no compromise on the respect of ‘Kala Kot’ (black coat). Our group has always maintained supremacy of Constitution and the law.”
He said they would continue to struggle for the Constitution and law.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar congratulated the Independent group’s Masood Chishti, M Hafeezur Rehman, Ramzan Chaudhry and others on their victory.
He said interference in the institutions would not be tolerated. “Parliament is supreme and there will be no compromise on the dignity of judiciary,” he said.
Ahsan Bhoon, the former SCBA president, said lawyers have expressed confidence in the Independent group.
“We recognise parliamentary privilege on constitutional amendments,” Bhoon said.
He said parliament has the right to make Constitution. Welfare of lawyers is their goal, as they believe in the supremacy of the Constitution, he remarked.
Bhoon said the opponents, including Hamid, had raised a big fuss.
“He (Hamid) is the representative of a political party while we talk about the Constitution and law,” he added.
Mansoor, newly elected SCBA secretary, said he would work for improvement of justice system.
“The amendments in the Constitution are against the people. These amendments will destroy the justice system,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also felicitated the newly elected SCBA President Atta and Bhoon, a leader of Independent Group, on winning the election.
The prime minister congratulated all leaders of the group for winning the SCBA elections, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. He also expressed confidence that the newly elected office-bearers, including the president, would continue their mission of welfare of lawyer community.
The lawyer community would continue playing its positive role for the implementation of 26th Constitutional Amendment, Constitution and the supremacy of parliament.
The prime minister said that the lawyer community deserved appreciation for their election of Atta. He hoped that the newly elected office-bearers and the lawyer community would play their positive and effective role in resolution of issues faced by the community and others.
In his post on X, noted lawyer and legal commentator Salahuddin Ahmed said: “Rauf Ata, from Independent Group (backed by PPP/PML/JUI/ANP), has won Punjab and KP in SCBA elections.”
“Munir Kakar, from Professional Group (backed by PTI), has won Sindh and Balochistan,” he said. “Across Pakistan, Ata seems to have won by about 200 votes (results in some stations awaited),” he added.