Verdict on LG reserved seats election reserved

LAHORE
The Lahore High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on a number of petitions seeking directions for direct election on reserved seats of local government election and challenging phase-wise election in Punjab.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Awami Party and others had filed the petitions against phase-wise local government election and selection on reserved seats for minorities, women, youth and farmers.
The counsels of the petitioners argued 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 LG election and barred 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 petitioners’ counsels requested the judge to set aside Section 13 of the Local Government Act 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. They had pleaded the court to dismiss the petitions.
After hearing both sides, Justice Ijazul Ahsan of the LHC reserved the verdict on the petitions.