ISLAMABAD - Lawyers contesting bar councils or bar associations' elections have been cautioned to avoid using large banners and posters in their upcoming election campaigns.
After the summer vacations of the courts, which will end in the first week of September, the election campaigns in the district bars and the high court bars will begin and the lawyers aspiring to contest elections will place banners, posters and stickers in their chamber and the courts premises. They will also hold big parties for their voters.
Vice-Chairman Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Ramzan Chaudhry talking to The Nation on phone from Lahore said that they have issued notices to the presidents high court, district and tehsil bar associations, Punjab, asking the lawyers not to place large size banners, placards and posters in violation of the rules.
The PBC vice-chairman stated that under the Legal Practitioners & Bar Councils Rules, 1976, neither a contesting candidate and his supporters can do canvassing by hanging banners, placards, stickers and posters in chambers or court premises, nor they can host lunch/dinner for getting votes. "A candidate, however, can do election campaign only by distributing visiting cards and holding personal meetings with voters. It is imperative that members of the bar must adhere to the rules in letter and spirit while campaigning for the next elections." He urged the presidents high court, district and tehsil bar associations, Punjab, to apprise the candidates about the rules and forthwith remove publicity material from their chambers and court premises, failing to which the delinquents shall be liable to strict disciplinary action.