Campaign for PHCBA election gains momentum

PESHAWAR: The campaign for the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) election for 2018-19 has gained momentum as four candidates are in the run for the post of the president.

As per the final list of the candidates issued by the Election Commissioner, Fazal Elahi advocate, four candidates are in the run for the president seat. They are Syed Abdul Fayaz, Esaac Ali Qazi, Muhammad Isa Khan and Hashim Raza.

A tough contest is expected on the secretary general seat as two candidates — Muhammad Yasir Khattak and Abid Ali — are vying for the slot.

Two candidates are competing for the vice-president post. They are Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and Taskeenuddin Khattak.

Likewise, two candidates are in the field for the post of joint secretary. They are Muhammad Ayaz Khan and Muhammad Sufian.

There are two contestants for secretary library seat — Sabiha Iqbal and Muhammad Haroon Durrani.

Two candidates have been elected unopposed. They are Imanullah secretary finance and Asad Zeb press secretary.

Most of the candidates for the executive members have been elected unopposed.

Kamran Ahmad and Faisal Irshad were elected unopposed from Peshawar district, Hasan Gul from Charsadda district, Muhammad Sohail Anwar from Mardan district, Muhammad Sagheer from Swabi district and Gul Hassan from Hangu district.

However, two candidates including Jabar Hussain and Altaf Hussain are in the run for the executive member seat from Kohat.

Malgari Wakeelan, an organisation affiliated with the Awami National Party, and the People’s Lawyers Forum, linked to the Pakistan People’s Party and Justice Lawyers Forum has formed alliance for the PHCBA election.

The alliance has fielded Syed Abdul Fayaz for the president post, Muhammad Ibrahim for vice-president and Muhammad Yasir Khattak for secretary general post.

The Grand Alliance Panel comprising Jamiat Lawyers Forum linked to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, Insaf Lawyers Forum of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Muslim Lawyers Forum linked to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Islamic Lawyers Forum of Jamaat-e-Islami fielded Muhammad Isa Khan for the president post, Taskeenuddin Khattak for vice-president and Abid Ali for secretary general seat.

Observers believe a tough contest is expected between Syed Abdul Fayaz and Muhammad Isa Khan for the president post as both are popular in the bar politics.

Syed Abdul Fayaz is currently a member of Pakistan Bar Council from KP and remained member KP Bar Council for several times.

Similarly, Muhammad Isa Khan has served for three times as secretary general and once as president of PHCBA.

Senior lawyers Esaac Ali Qazi and Hashim Raza are contesting for the president post as independent candidates.

Esaac Ali Qazi told The News that he had sufficient support in the Malgari Wakeelan as first he was a candidate for the president, but later the decision was changed.

He also claimed to have senior lawyers support in all the districts and hopeful to win the election.

As per the schedule issued by the Election Commissioner, election would be held on April 28 from 8am to 4pm at various stations, including Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Chota Lahor, Kohat, Nowshera, Charsadda and Takhtbhai.