By Abdullah Ahmad
LAHORE; Punjab Assembly members from the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have filed a petition in the Lahore High Court, challenging key sections of the recently enacted Punjab Local Government Act (PLGA) 2025 as unconstitutional.
The petition, filed by Opposition Leader Muhammad Moeenuddin Riaz, Hafiz Farhat Abbas, and Ali Imtiaz, contends that Sections 15, 25, 32, 40, 55, 56, and 57 of the Act violate fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, including Articles 8, 9, 17, 32, and 140-A.
The petition argues that the law curtails the powers of elected local representatives, restricts political participation, and undermines democracy by mandating non-party-based elections.
The petitioners state that the Act “introduces systematic elimination of political choice,” which they say contradicts the principles of democracy, equality, and freedom. They further argue that it infringes upon citizens’ rights to association and dignity and effectively disenfranchises voters.
The PTI lawmakers have requested the court to suspend the implementation of the challenged sections until the case is decided.
The PLGA 2025 was hastily passed by the Punjab Assembly on October 13 despite strong opposition protests. The move followed the Election Commission of Pakistan’s announcement that local government polls would be held under the previous PLGA 2022 in December. However, after the passage of the new law, the ECP postponed the elections to next year, citing procedural delays.
PTI leaders have strongly criticized the non-party-based model and centralization of powers in administrative officers’ hands, claiming it undermines the essence of local governance. They have called for restoring direct elections for union council chairmen, ensuring a fixed five-year term, and restricting executive interference in local government affairs.
