Secretary Law said though the Local Government (LG) law was vetted but he was not satisfied and added LG election could be held after the amendments in the law and making of rules under it. He said this before a full bench headed by Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh along with Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Jawad Hassan its members hearing scores of petitions against the law and dissolution of local government institutions by the provincial government. The bench adjourned the proceedings to November 06 as the secretary sought time to complete the process for the amendments and making rules.

The bench observed that the Punjab Local Government Act 2019 was a poorly drafted law and most of its provisions were self-contradictory and added that the government from the day first had been resolute that there was no wrong with the law and now its secretary law was not satisfied with the legislation.

A counsel from the petitioners' side pointed out that the agreement reached between the stakeholders was to the extent of the role of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the process of holding elections. Another petitioner's counsel argued that they had no objection if the government was allowed more time but the court should first set aside the unconstitutional act by the government of dissolution of the local government institutions. The petitioners include Lahore's former lord mayor retired Col Mubashir Javed and others.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019