Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, addressing a session of the National Assembly on Friday, April 19, 2024. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
ISLAMABAD:
The federal government-backed Independent Group has consolidated its influence in the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), securing a majority in the apex lawyer regulatory body for the next five years, in elections with far-reaching institutional and political implications.
Led by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Ahsan Bhoon, the Independent Group is a strong supporter of the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments.
Its dominance is also seen as a boost for the nascent Federal Constitutional Court, which is going through an initial phase marked by legal and administrative challenges.
Of the PBC’s 23 seats, the group won eight seats in Punjab, four in Sindh, two in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and one in Islamabad, allowing it to retain its long-held majority.
The election attracted increased attention due to the direct participation of key political and legal figures. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja both participated in the elections and were elected as members of the council.
Five members belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) were also elected to the PBC. Farooq H Naek, considered one of the greatest lawyers of the PPP, also got a seat on the board.
The Independent Group, widely known as a pro-government bloc, has remained in the majority in the PBC since 2010.
A majority of PBC members nominate their representative to the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP), a constitutional body responsible for appointing judges.
The Independent Group has had considerable influence in the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary, particularly the higher courts, and its latest victory potentially strengthens its position in this area.
On the other hand, the Professional Group, aligned with the PTI and a staunch critic of the two constitutional amendments, failed to secure a majority in the PBC poll. Although the group performed well in provincial bar council elections, its momentum did not translate into success at the national level.
A member of the Professional Group said that shortly after the provincial bar council elections, the group was well positioned to obtain a majority within the CLCC. However, he alleged that the government used its influence over members of provincial bar councils to influence the PBC elections.
However, members of the Independent Panel rejected allegations of government interference. They said their leaders, Ahsan Bhoon and Azam Nazeer Tarar, remained accessible to members of the bar and actively addressed their concerns. “Our group believes in the welfare of the bar, and that is the key to success,” said one member of the group.
Meanwhile, senior lawyers have expressed jubilation over the election of renowned lawyer Salahuddin Ahmed to the PBC.
Salahuddin, who belongs to the Professional Group, is widely recognized as a staunch defender of judicial independence and the rule of law.
It is noteworthy that Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed has been counsel to Justice Qazi Faez Isa and six judges of the Islamabad High Court, and is currently representing the Supreme Court Press Association in a suo motu case regarding the protection of journalists.
