The election campaign of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has intensified ahead of the annual elections scheduled for October 29, with prominent lawyers expressing support for candidates backed by the Independent Group.
Renowned jurist Dr Khalid Ranjha hosted a dinner in honour of the group’s candidates at his residence in the Cantonment area. Prominent lawyer leader Ahsan Bhoon attended the gathering, which was also attended by a large number of lawyers who pledged their support for the Independent Group.
Among those present were Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Pir Masood Chishti, Additional Attorney General Malik Javed Awan, Lahore Lawyers Forum President Rafaqat Ali Dogar, Pakistan Bar Council member Chaudhry Tahir Nasrullah Warraich, Supreme Court Advocate Nasir Chauhan, former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, MPA and advocate Rushda Lodhi, Supreme Court Advocate Syed Tanveer Hashmi, Lahore High Court Bar presidential candidate Haroon Duggal, Advocate Rana Khizar Hayat, Sonia Jadoon and Muhammad Saeed Nagra, along with other members of the legal fraternity.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Khalid Ranjha praised Bhoon’s leadership, saying his work for the legal community following the death of Asma Jahangir was unparalleled.
He said lawyers responded to Bhoon’s call by standing together and expressed confidence that candidates backed by him would win the elections. Bhoon said the Independent Group had consistently worked for the welfare of the legal community while maintaining a positive approach and avoiding negativity.
He said the election would provide an opportunity to respond to what he described as false propaganda through the democratic process.
He maintained that the group had challenged the status quo within the judiciary and stressed the importance of ensuring the success of the entire Independent Group panel. Bhoon also said the group supported a system in which professional and capable lawyers could advance to the bench, rather than opportunities being limited to lawyers associated with a select few chambers.