- Opposition MPAs seeks annulment of key sections, terms law unconstitutional
- Say non-party polls violate Articles 8, 9, 17, 32 and 140-A of Constitution, arguing Act curtails powers of elected local representatives
LAHORE: Lawmakers of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday challenged key provisions of the recently enacted Punjab Local Government Act (PLGA) 2025 in the Lahore High Court (LHC), terming them unconstitutional and an assault on democratic rights.
The petition—filed by Opposition Leader Muhammad Moeenuddin Riaz, Hafiz Farhat Abbas and Ali Imtiaz—argues that several sections of the new law, passed by the Punjab Assembly last month amid opposition protests, violate fundamental rights and constitutional guarantees. The Punjab government has been named as the respondent, while Justice Sultan Tanvir will hear the case, according to counsel Abuzar Salman Niazi.
The petition challenges Sections 15, 32, 25, 40, 55, 56 and 57 of the Act, declaring them “unconstitutional, unreasonable, and illegitimate.” It asserts that these provisions “brazenly contravene” Articles 8, 9, 17, 32 and 140-A of the Constitution—which safeguard fundamental rights, freedom of association, and the establishment of empowered local governments.
“The PLGA 2025 is a restrictive law designed to curtail the powers of elected representatives and undermine the political process,” the petition states, arguing that the Act’s provision for non-party-based elections limits political choice and weakens democracy. It adds that this arrangement “violates freedom of association, disenfranchises citizens and fosters alienation.”
The petitioners have sought suspension of the impugned sections during the pendency of the case, urging the court to declare them ultra vires to the Constitution.
The Act was passed on October 13, days after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that long-delayed local government elections in Punjab would be held under the PLGA 2022 in December. Following the new legislation, the ECP reversed its order on October 21 and postponed the polls to next year’s second quarter.
PTI lawmakers have strongly opposed the non-party-based model, claiming it centralizes financial powers and allows unelected administrators to override local representatives—a move they say undermines provincial democracy and local autonomy.
