Punjab govt ordered to submit plan on restoration of LG system

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the Punjab government to submit a plan on restoration of the local government system in the province in light of a judgement passed by the Supreme Court.

Justice Ayesha A Malik was hearing a set of petitions seeking implementation of the SC judgement about restoration of local governments in the province. Chief Secretary Jawad Rafiq Malik told the court that a committee formed to deliberate upon the judgement and the restoration of the LG system was scheduled to meet after Eid holidays.

He sought time to furnish a detailed reply. The judge adjourned further hearing till July 28 and also allowed the government to use the LG funds through administrators to the extent of payments of salaries and pensions only.

The judge warned the government against the use of the LG funds for any development scheme. Lahore’s lord mayor Col Mubashir Javed and others had filed the petitions. They pleaded that the provincial government failed to restore the local governments despite the Supreme Court issuing its detailed judgement in the matter.

They said the failure of the government to implement the decision amounted to contempt of court. The petitioners asked the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the provincial government. On March 25, a three-judge bench of the SC, through a short order, had ordered restoration of local bodies in the province after declaring their dissolution as unconstitutional.