LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday set aside delimitation of dozens of union councils of Lahore for upcoming local government elections carried out by the district election commissioner, Punjab.

Allowing a number of petitions filed by voters of different city UCs, the court directed the district election commissioner to hear the petitioners afresh and decide the disputes regarding the delimitation on merit.

The petitioners had stated that the respondent held delimitation of their UCs without hearing their complaints.

The court cancelled the delimitation and asked the respondent to do it afresh after affording an ample opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioners.

RESERVED SEATS: Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court on Wednesday requested the chief justice to constitute a larger bench to hear petitions against seats reserved for women, youth, non-Muslims and others in upcoming local government elections.

Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and others challenged the law, saying it curtailed public rights, especially their right to democratic and efficient governance.

They pleaded that indirect election (selection) would pave the way for corruption as elected members were likely to be purchased like commodity. They said denial of direct representation was equally negation of Article 25 of the Constitution, which prohibited discrimination.

The petitioners asked the court to strike down sections 2, 4 and 8 of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance for being ultra vires to the Constitution.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2015

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