In the crucial electoral contest of Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA), Advocate Arif Chaudhry on Saturday defeated his opponent Sheikh Khizar Rashid after a neck-and-neck competition with a difference of only seven votes. Chaudhry secured the top slot of lawyers' body by getting 525 votes against his opponent who managed to bag 518 votes.
Likewise, Arbab Abbasi was elected to the slot of secretary IHCBA. He bagged 550 votes against his competitor Abdul Rafay who took 485 votes. Asif Tamboli got the joint secretary seat by getting 528 votes. His rival Sajid Mashwani got 507 votes.
Though Chaudhry is a senior lawyer and has been vice-chairman of Punjab Bar Council over a decade back. He, however, is more influential in Lahore where he practised law for decades. He moved to Islamabad a few years ago and established his chamber about three years ago. Initially, Chaudhry was a supporter of the then ruling group of lawyers that enjoyed the backing of senior local lawyers. In January 2014, Chaudhry challenged scores of appointments in Islamabad High Court (IHC) in public interest litigation.
He came in spotlight after the Supreme Court on September 26 last year declared that the recruitment's made in the IHC, including the appointment of real brother of IHC Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi, were illegal. His competitor Sheikh Khizer Rashid is comparatively young lawyer. Besides some notable local lawyers, several former presidents of IHCBA and District Bar Association of Islamabad were canvassing for him. In addition, incumbent members of Islamabad Bar Council (IBC) who were supposed to be neutral in the elections also openly supported and campaigned for Rashid.
Since both the candidates for the slot of the president were strong, the lawyers witnessed one of the toughest competitions since IHCBA was established in 2011. The local group of lawyers had managed easy victory in IHCBA elections against opponents since 2012.
Former judge of the Lahore High Court (LHC) and a senior local lawyer, Raja Shafqat Khan Abbasi while talking to this correspondent admitted that the reason for defeat of his group is that they could not deliver. He said that their group's 'stalwarts' were confident of victory and they could not spare adequate time during electioneering whereas Advocate Chaudhry and his supporters campaigned aggressively.
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