SCBA elections to be held today | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- The annual Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election is being held today.
- The election is highly significant due to the recent passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment affecting the superior judiciary.
- The main contest is between Toufiq Asif (Professional Group, opposing the amendment) and Haroonur Rasheed (Independent Group, supporting the amendment).
- Political parties are divided in their support, with PML-N, PPP, and ANP backing the Independent Group, and PTI and JI backing Asif.
- The Professional Group views the election as a referendum against the 26th Constitutional Amendment, while the Independent Group focuses on lawyers' welfare.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) is conducting its annual election today, an event deemed highly significant given the recent passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment impacting the superior judiciary, with rumors of a 27th Amendment pending. The presidential race pits Toufiq Asif of the Professional Group, a critic of the amendment, against Haroonur Rasheed of the Independent Group, which supports the change. Hamid Khan, head of the Professional Group, framed the election as a referendum against the 26th Amendment, while Asif promised to resist executive interference. Conversely, the Independent Group is prioritizing lawyers' welfare projects, such as housing. Political backing is divided, with major parties supporting different candidates, and the outcome may be influenced by 453 newly enrolled Supreme Court lawyers.
