‘Canvassing for votes only through ads, banners, placards and posters’

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the provincial councils and associations decided that no prospective/contesting candidate or his supporter, in the ensuing elections of provincial/Islamabad Bar Councils and the bar associations, shall canvass for votes through advertisements, banners, placards, and posters.

A joint meeting of the Judicial and Electoral Reforms Committee of the PBC with vice-chairmen of provincial/Islamabad Bar Councils and presidents of High Court Bar Associations considered the matter of formulating proposals of amendments in rules of the PBC, for reformation of election process of bar councils and bar associations. The meeting was held at the Council’s Office, Supreme Court Building here on Friday.

The candidate may, however, solicit support through personal contact and by issuing letters and visiting cards of 3” x 5” size, on which, he may also display his photograph. Any violation, thereof shall be treated as “misconduct” disqualifying/disentitling the prospective/contesting candidate to contest election of the bar council and/or the bar association, as the case may be.

It was decided that in the election of the bar associations in case of transfer of name of a voter member from one bar association to another, the transferee member/voter will be eligible to cast his vote in the election of the bar association to which he gets his name transferred, only after expiry of two years of such transfer.