LHC moved against Punjab Local Govt Bill.

Byline: Shahzad Ahmad

LAHORE -- The Lahore High Court has been moved against likely dissolution of the local government institutions in Punjab province.

Filing a writ petition in the Lahore High Court, former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal's son challenged the Punjab Local Government Bill, 2019.

The petition pleaded that through the new bill, the current local government institutions will be eliminated and local bodies representatives will lose their positions. The petition further says that the local bodies couldn't be dissolved until their tenure is completed.

The petition submitted that the High Court may kindly direct the provincial government to allow the incumbent local bodies to complete their term, and that the new local government in Punjab be declared null and void.

Last Tuesday, the Punjab Assembly had passed two bills to replace the current local bodies with a new local government system despite the protest raised by the opposition parties especially the PML-N.

The Punjab Panchayats and Neighbourhood Councils Bill, 2019 and the Punjab Local Government Bill, 2019 will come into effect soon after the assent of the Punjab Governor. After his assent, the current local government representatives would lose their offices and elections for the new local bodies will be held within one year...