LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the Punjab government`s failure to submit a reply to a petition of former mayor retired Col Mubashir Javed challenging the Punjab Local Government Act (PLGA) 2022 and the dissolution of district governments.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan, the senior puisne judge of the LHC,heard the petition when Additional Advocate General Rana Shamshad appeared before the court and sought more time to file the reply.

Displeased with the law officer`s request, the judge warned that failure to file a reply on the next hearing would lead to personal appearance of the provincial secretary for local government.

The judge adjourned the hearing till Feb 12.

The petitioner stated that the amendments to the local government law of 2013 were contrary tothe Constitution as they transferred financial and administrative powers to the secretaries.

He said the election commission failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to conduct fair and free election of the local governments in Punjab within the stipulated time.

He asked the court to set aside the impugned law of 2022 and order the ECP to conduct the LG polls under the 2013 Act in Punjab without further delay.

The former mayor had filed the petition in July 2023.