The Asma Jahangir Independent Group secured victory in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) elections on Tuesday, with Mian Rauf Atta receiving 1,270 votes and being declared the new President. In contrast, Munir Kakar from the Hamid Khan Group garnered 1,155 votes.
Salman Mansoor from the Hamid Khan Professional Group was elected as Secretary of the SCBA. Preliminary results indicate that Mian Rauf Atta won in nine cities, including Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, and Bahawalpur, while the Hamid Khan Group managed to win only in Karachi and Quetta. The Asma Jahangir Group is leading in 14 out of 17 positions, while candidates from the Hamid Khan Group are ahead in three.
In a media statement, newly elected SCBA President Rauf Atta emphasized, “There will be no compromise on the respect of the ‘Kala Kot’ (black coat). Our group has always upheld the supremacy of the Constitution and the law,” vowing to continue the fight for constitutional rights.
Federal Law Minister Nazir Tarar congratulated members of the Independent Group, including Masood Chishti, M Hafeezur Rehman, and Ramzan Chaudhry, on their election wins. He asserted that any interference in institutions would not be tolerated, reaffirming that “Parliament is supreme and there will be no compromise on the dignity of the judiciary.”
Ahsan Bhoon, the former SCBA President, noted that lawyers had shown their confidence in the Independent Group, stating, “We recognize parliamentary privilege on constitutional amendments,” and affirmed the parliament’s right to shape the Constitution. He reiterated that their focus is on the welfare of lawyers and the supremacy of the Constitution, adding that their opponents, including Hamid Khan, had made a considerable noise. “He (Hamid) is the representative of a political party, while we discuss the Constitution and law,” Bhoon remarked.
Salman Mansoor, the newly elected Secretary of the Hamid Khan Group, stated his commitment to improving the justice system. He criticized recent amendments to the Constitution, claiming they could undermine the justice system.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his congratulations to Mian Rauf Atta and Ahsan Bhoon on their election wins. He expressed confidence that the new leadership would prioritize the welfare of the legal community. The Prime Minister acknowledged the lawyer community’s role in supporting the 26th Constitutional Amendment and emphasized their importance in addressing community issues.
Noted lawyer and legal commentator Salahuddin Ahmed remarked on X that Rauf Atta from the Independent Group, supported by the PPP, PML, JUI, and ANP, won in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Munir Kakar from the Professional Group, backed by the PTI, won in Sindh and Balochistan. He added that Rauf Atta’s victory across Pakistan was by about 200 votes.
