LAHORE The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed a number of identical petitions challenging seats reserved for minorities, women, youth and farmers in local government election being held in Punjab. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Awami Party and others filed the petitions. It was argued by the petitioners’ counsels that secret balloting
By our correspondents
October 31, 2015
LAHORE The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed a number of identical petitions challenging seats reserved for minorities, women, youth and farmers in local government election being held in Punjab. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Awami Party and others filed the petitions. It was argued by the petitioners’ counsels that secret balloting was important for all kind of elections under Article 140 of the Constitution. They contended that the Punjab government passed a new law on local government election and restricted direct election of the minorities, youth, women and farmers. They said it was against the Constitution. Section 13 of the Punjab Local Government Act 2015 was contrary to the Constitution and against the fundamental rights of the citizens, they argued. The counsels prayed that Section 13 of the Local Government Act should be set aside and order the government to hold secret balloting for all kind of elections, including the LG polls. However, the law officers on behalf of the government opposed the arguments saying that the petitions against the law were not maintainable. Traffic arrangements: City Traffic Police have finalised arrangements to maintain the flow of traffic, guide and help citizens on polling day. CTO Tayyab Hafeez Cheema said that additional force has been deputed at and around Election Commission Office, Town Hall, Commissioner Office and District Courts for the smooth delivery of election material. He said that 1,100 traffic wardens, 100 lady wardens, 320 pilots and 112 inspectors had been deployed under the supervision of two SPs and 13 DSPs. DSP Flying Squad will be responsible to deliver meal to all traffic staff in time. 231 arrested: Inspector General of Police Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera has said that Punjab Police have been conducting operation against the storage and display of weapons following the code of conduct of Election Commission of Pakistan. He said that 674 operations were conducted in 12 districts of the province in which 231 persons were arrested while 274 cases were registered.
