February 26, 2022
Staff Report
LAHORE
The Independent Group, also known as the Asma Jahangir Group, won the elections of the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) on Saturday, with Sardar Akbar Ali Dogar clinching the top seat as President, defeating the Hamid Khan-led Professional Group candidate Rana Asadullah Khan. Dogar bagged a total of 6,581 votes while Asad garnered 3,976 votes.
The Independent Group also secured the seat of Vice President with 4,074 votes against 2,003 of the Professional Group’s nominees. Rai Usman, Independent Group’s candidate for LHCBA Secretary won the seat with 4,455 votes.
Only one female candidate contested the elections for one of the four executive positions in the LHCBA. Falak Naz, who was running for the slot of finance secretary, managed to get 2,055 votes but did not win the seat.
Voting was conducted with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), which have been the norm for the LHCBA for several years now.
Last year, the Asma Jahangir Group won the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) elections by a thumping majority. Ahsan Bhoon was elected as President of the SCBAP with a record number of votes.
The Independent Group was founded in 2010 when the late human rights advocate Asma Jahangir decided to run for President of the SCBAP. After a nail-biting contest, she won the polls and became the first female president of the SCBAP.
Since its inception in 2010, the Independent Group has changed the course of bar politics by winning many elections of different bar associations and bar councils.
