The Sindh Bar Council (SBC) on Wednesday announced the holding of the annual elections of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) on February 14, constituting an election board to run day to-day-affairs of the association.
The order was issued by the executive committee of the SBC on complaints of lawyers with regard to the holding of the KBA elections.
The executive committee, after hearing the complainant and KBA office-bearers, observed that elected representatives of the KBA have broken or exceeded the mandate given to them by the members, and the SBC under the Bar Association Recognition Rule shall exercise the management of the day-to-day affairs through its election board (returning officers) for a period of 24 days with the elections to be held on February 14.
The SBC executive committee observed that elections must be conducted through the election commissioner appointed by the chief justice of the high court; therefore, returning officers may still approach the CJ or else hold elections themselves, or may call a fully informed general body.
The SBC has also appointed returning officers (election board) including Khalid Mumtaz, Amir Saleem, Shaukat Kamal Cheema, Mohammad Ajmal Solangi, Ikhtiar Ali Channa, and Masood Mandokhel. It observed that returning officers shall have equal powers and in case of any conflict shall decide any issue on the basis of majority.
The SBC said the election board shall prepare the voter list in accordance with clearance of the SBC and verification from Nadra/accontant general and to remove any member who has duplicate membership or is on the salary from any government or private department or organization and the printing of new ballot papers under the patronage of the executive committee.
The bar council asked the election board to remove any panaflex or illegal construction within the KBA premises, appoint any government contractor to address the sanitation issue of the city courts of Karachi and ensure strict discipline within the premises of the city courts.
