LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has been urged to order immediate local government elections across Punjab, arguing that holding polls is a constitutional requirement rather than a matter of government discretion.
In a miscellaneous application filed in a pending writ petition, the Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) also seeks to restrain the transfer of local government powers and assets to unelected bodies and private companies.
The application filed through Advocate Azhar Siddique argues that depriving the people of Punjab of elected local representatives amounted to a violation of their constitutional and democratic rights.
It says Article 140-A of the Constitution made the establishment of local government institutions and the devolution of powers to them a constitutional responsibility of provincial governments.
It argues that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) could not evade its constitutional obligation to hold local government elections by citing delays in legislation or administrative arrangements by the government.
The panel also questions the transfer of local government functions to private companies and unelected authorities, saying that placing public funds, assets and municipal powers under the control of unelected officials and corporate entities undermines democratic accountability.
It maintains that allowing parallel authorities and private companies to exercise local government powers is contrary to the constitutional principle of decentralisation.
The plea pointed out that local government polls in Punjab have been delayed despite Supreme Court judgments on the matter.
It asks the court to direct the ECP to issue a clear and final election schedule with specified timelines and submit a comprehensive roadmap for delimitation, electoral rolls and other preparations.
The petition also seeks details from the Punjab government of all private companies and authorities to which local government powers or assets had been transferred.
It further requests the court to restrain the transfer of such powers and assets to unelected bodies until the final decision on the pending constitutional petition.
-Staff Reporter