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No woman elected in 127 bars polls

Sher Ali Khalti
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025

LAHORE:In elections across 41 districts and 82 tehsils involving 127 bar associations concluded without the election of a single woman as president or secretary.

This trend, persisting since the inception of these associations, underscores systemic social biases and a glaring gender disparity in the legal profession. Liaqat Ali Advocate of Lahore High Court said that while thousands of woman lawyers actively practice and significantly contribute to the legal field, they continue to be excluded from decision-making roles.

Not a single district-level bar association in Pakistan has ever had a woman president. Similarly, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the apex representative body of lawyers, has never elected a woman to its decision-making cadre, including its influential role in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP). While women are recognised as equal colleagues in legal practice, they face resistance when aspiring for leadership roles, reflecting a deep-seated reluctance to accept them as decision-makers, said Liqat Ali. The continued exclusion of women from leadership in the legal community raises pressing questions about representation and inclusivity within Pakistan’s legal profession. Liaqat Ali argued that meaningful steps must be taken to ensure equitable participation.