The Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Muhammad Moeen Ud Din Riaz, has challenged the Local Government Act 2025 in the Lahore High Court, prompting the court to issue notices to the Punjab government and other respondents.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, LHC Justice Sultan Tanveer heard the petition filed by the opposition leader and others, in which the Punjab government, the Secretary of Local Government, and several other officials were made parties to the case.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner argued that granting administrative powers to the bureaucracy under the Local Government Act 2025 violates the Constitution, as constitutional principles require that such powers be vested in elected representatives.
He further contended that holding non-party-based local government elections contravenes Article 17 of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the fundamental right to political association and affiliation.
The petitioners’ lawyer maintained that expressing loyalty to a political party is a constitutional right, and the act infringes upon this freedom.
The petitioners’ lawyer appealed to the court to declare the relevant provisions of the Local Government Act 2025 null and void for being inconsistent with the Constitution and democratic norms.
Yesterday, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar hinted that the upcoming local government (LG) elections in Punjab may be held on a non-party basis.
Speaking to journalists, Tarar said that local government elections in the province should be held on time and that the provincial minister for local bodies was already working on the matter.
He noted that such non-party-based local elections had been held in the past as well, adding that the government had empowered local representatives at the district and municipal levels.
