ISLAMABAD: The Oct 31 election of the Supreme Court Bar Association — a lawyers’ body that attained national and international significance after the successful movement for the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan — has generated much interest with major contenders running for a second time for the coveted post of SCBA president.

A tough contest is expected between the Independent Group (Asma Jahangir’s panel) led by Ali Ahmed Kurd and Professional Group (Hamid Khan’s panel) led by Amanullah Kanrani.

Whoever wins the 2018-19 election, the presidential post will go to Balochistan as this is the term of the province by rotation. Both groups claim to be in a comfortable position to win a landslide victory but independent observers say the contenders will be running neck and neck.

Bar presidency will go to Balochistan after Oct 31 polls

Both Mr Kurd and Mr Kanrani are running for SCBA presidency for a second time, as the former had won the election and served as SCBA president in 2008 whereas the latter lost the election against Kamran Murtaza in 2013.

However, Mr Kurd is a late starter of his campaign this time since the decision to field him by Independent Group was taken too late with the result that he only had one month to campaign when his competitor started his campaign over a year ago and that too very vigorously.

At a reception hosted in his honour at Islamabad Club last Wednesday, Mr Kurd acknowledged that he was given only 35 days for the election campaign but claimed he completed his entire election campaign by visiting the bars of the country. He vowed to continue fighting against injustices. He was very critical of the way cases were being dismissed without counsel being heard. He also talked about impediments to the quick dispensation of justice.

Admirers of Mr Kurd consider that the firebrand leader from Balochistan would give a new impetus to the struggle that the lawyers had put up under his leadership during the 2007 lawyers’ movement for the rule of law and restoration of an independent judiciary. “Our institution is getting weaker day by day and that is why we need people like Kurd all the more,” said former SCBA president Yasin Azad.

Former advocate general for Balochistan, Mr Kanrani takes pride in ensuring the payment of compensation to the families of the lawyers who lost their lives or were critically wounded in the Quetta suicide attack in 2016.

Mr Kanrani said that being the advocate general, he personally contacted each family to ensure that they receive the compensation amount timely and without much hassle.

Siddiq Baloch, deputy prosecutor general of Punjab, says that Mr Kanrani had been on a quite campaign for the past one year by reaching door to door in his canvassing for the election.

Some observers say that as Mr Kurd had been instrumental in the removal of over 100 judges who had taken oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), neither the former judges nor lawyers under their influence would vote for him.

Senior member of the Pakistan Bar Council Raheel Kamran Sheikh, however, regretted that even in this day or age, many voters preferred to vote on the basis of personal relationship with a candidate and sometimes his caste and grouping. “It is very painful to acknowledge the fact that the role a candidate can play is often ignored while exercising their right to franchise,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2018

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