Asma Jahangir (Independant) Group secures victory in Supreme Court Bar Association elections

The Independent Group, also known as the Asma Jahangir Group, has secured a decisive victory in the elections of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), maintaining its longstanding dominance in the country’s top bar body. According to unofficial results, Haroon ur Rasheed of the Independent Group elected president after defeating Taufeeq Asif of the Hamid Khan-led Professional Group, while the Independent Group’s Zahid Aslam elected as secretary.

As per unofficial results, Haroon ur Rasheed secured a total of 1,947 votes, while Taufeeq Asif received 1,511 votes. The Independent Group has now won 13 out of the last 16 SCBA elections since its formation by the late human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir in 2010. This victory also marks the group’s third consecutive win for the top office of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Both presidential candidates in this year’s election, Haroon ur Rasheed and Taufeeq Asif, were from Islamabad/Rawalpindi, as the top slot for the presidency was reserved for the federal capital under the rotation policy that allocates the position among different provinces and regions each year. The final official results of the SCBA elections are expected to be formally announced in Islamabad next week.

The contest between the two rival groups—the Independent Group led by the late Asma Jahangir and the Professional Group led by Hamid Khan—remained competitive in several regions, with close margins recorded in Peshawar, Karachi, and Quetta. However, the Independent Group maintained a clear lead overall, winning with significant margins in key cities such as Lahore, Multan, and Hyderabad.

According to unofficial regional voting results, Haroon ur Rasheed received 25 votes in Bannu compared to Taufeeq Asif’s 5. In Dera Ismail Khan, Haroon secured 23 votes while Taufeeq obtained 17. In Swat, Haroon received 27 votes against 23 for Taufeeq. In Peshawar, one of the closest contests was reported, where Haroon received 186 votes and Taufeeq 181. From Abbottabad, Haroon gained 55 votes while Taufeeq received 19.

In Hyderabad, Haroon received 64 votes compared to Taufeeq’s 33. In Karachi, Haroon obtained 196 votes while Taufeeq secured 184. In Sukkur, Haroon won 55 votes compared to 13 for Taufeeq. From Lahore, Haroon achieved a significant margin with 628 votes against 427 for Taufeeq. In Multan, Haroon received 137 votes while Taufeeq secured 112. In Quetta, Haroon led with 121 votes compared to Taufeeq’s 101.

Following the announcement of the unofficial results, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the Independent Group on their victory. In his message, the Prime Minister extended special congratulations to Ahsan Bhoon, head of the Independent Group, as well as to newly elected SCBA President Haroon ur Rasheed, Secretary Zahid Aslam Awan, and other office bearers.

The Prime Minister said that the government has always regarded the legal fraternity as an important stakeholder in the reform process. He added that Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar maintains continuous engagement with members of the bar to discuss legislative and judicial reforms.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also extended his congratulations to Haroon ur Rasheed on his victory. In his statement, the Chief Minister said that the triumph of the Asma Jahangir Group in the SCBA elections reflects the legal community’s confidence in democratic values. He emphasized that lawyers have always played a vital role in upholding the Constitution and the rule of law, expressing hope that the newly elected leadership will work to further strengthen public trust in the justice system.