Deposed judge M.A Shahid Siddiqui was elected president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association on Saturday with overwhelming majority, after securing 2,676 votes while his opponents Farooq Ahmed Bajwa got 151 and Mozzam Iqbal Gill bagged only 120 votes.
He was highly regarded among the legal community for the sacrifices he made by refusing to take oath under Provisional Constitutional Order of November 3, 2007.
Munawar Iqbal Gondal, PML-N candidate backed by Professional Group has become vice president of the bar in a close contest. He obtained 957 votes, while opponents Mian Jamil Akhtar got 863, Babar Khilji 770, Rana Aqeel Nasir 334 and Zia ur Rehman Sindhu bagged 61 votes.
Muqtidar Akhtar Shabbir became the secretary bar by defeating Professional Group's candidate Rabbiya Bajwa, after getting 1,672 votes while Rabbiya obtained 1,347 votes. Rai Nawaz Ahmed Kharal has become the finance secretary by defeating his opponent Aneela Cheema. Kharal, who secured 1,623 votes while Cheema obtained 1,376.
Turnout remained low, as out of 8,840 only 2,961 votes were cast because the lawyers from other cities were not brought to cast their votes. Usually the presidential candidates arrange transport for lawyers of other cities but this time this exercise was not done because M.A Siddqiui was certain to win. Only Muqtidar managed to fetch his supporters from out stations that gave him an edge over his opponent. Soon after the pronouncement of result the bar was echoed with thunderous slogans Dharna hoga Dharna, "Go Zardari go" and "Chief Teray Janisar beshumar"