LHC Disposes Of Petitions Against Amendments For Mayors' Election

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd August, 2016) : The Lahore High Court on Wednesday disposing of petitions, challenging amendments in Punjab Local Government (LG) Act for the election of mayor, deputy mayor, chairman and vice chairman through show of hands, ordered to hold the elections in accordance with the LG law existed prior to the announcement of election schedule on August 26, 2015.

LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Awami Tehreek. Earlier, the Punjab government's counsel submitted that the old provisions for elections of mayor, deputy mayor, chairman and vice chairman had been re-enacted through a new law and now the elections would be held under secret ballot for the seats.

He submitted that grievances of the petitioners had been redressed through the new law and the petitions had become infractuous. However, petitioners' counsel Mubeen ud Din Qazi submitted that the new law would increase problems and it would delay the elections further as the candidates, who had submitted nomination papers under the law existed prior to announcement of election schedule of August 2015, would approach the courts and get stay orders.

He submitted that the amendments for elections of Mayor, deputy mayors, chairman and vice chairman through show of hands were introduced after the announcement of the elections schedule of August 26, 2015.

He pointed out that the Apex Court had already ordered to hold local government elections in Sindh for the seats of mayor, deputy mayor, chairman and vice chairman under the law existed prior to announcement of election schedule of August 26, 2015.

He said that the Apex Court had held that the amendments after the announcement of the election schedule were illegal. At this, the court disposed of the petitions and ordered to hold elections for the slots under the local government law existed prior to announcement of election schedule of August 26, 2015. The court further held that the Supreme Court judgement could be consulted for guidelines in this regard.