RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: As many as 16,254 members of Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) will elect their representatives for the year 2018-19 today. Strict security arrangements have been made to ensure a peaceful election.

Chairman of election board Javed Iqbal Raja told media persons that the complete polling would be held on biometric system. He said five polling stations would be established to hold polling from 9am to 5pm with one hour break. He said the lawyers registered at regional seats including Bahawalpur and Multan would not be eligible to cast their votes as double registration of the lawyers had been canceled and separate elections were held at the regional seats, he explained.

He said rangers had been deployed in and outside the high court while only two entry points Masjid gate and Turner Road gate—would be used for the entrance. He said only registered voters would be allowed to enter the polling stations. He said that car parking facility for lawyers would be available on Mall Road between Nasir Bagh and Bank Square.

Chaudhry Shahid Buttar of Professional group and Anwarul Haq Punno of Independent group are two main contenders for the top slot of president.

Aazar Latif Khan of a newly emerging group “Reformers” is also vying for the same slot. Former governor and senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khan Khosa is among his main supporters.

All the three candidates are former members of Punjab Bar Council. Chaudhry Noor Samand Khan, Shaista Qaiser, Rashid Ali Wains and Masood Gujjar are contesting for the office of vice president. There would be a one-on-one contest on secretary’s slot between Hassan Iqbal Warraich and Fayaz Ahmad Ranjha.

Five candidates are in run for finance secretary including Ahsan A. Sial, Hafiz Allahyar Sipra, Zeeshan Sulehria, Ansar Jamil Gujjar, and Farrukh Shahzad Kamboh.