LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday dismissed as withdrawn a petition challenging the Punjab Local Government Act (PLGA) 2019 and possible dissolution of the present set-up in the province elected under the 2013 legislation.

At the outset of the hearing, Punjab Advocate General (AG) Ahmad Jamal Sukhera objected to the maintainability of the petition filed by Narowal District Council Chairman Ahmad Iqbal, who is also the son of former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal.

The law officer told the court that the impugned Act had been passed by the assembly and a final notification by the governor was awaited. He argued that the law could not be challenged until the governor assented to it.

Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh asked the petitioner’s counsel as to how the challenge against the legislation could be entertained before the governor’s assent.

At this, petitioner’s counsel Usama Khawar sought permission to withdraw the petition to file it again after the governor’s assent to the impugned law. The judge dismissed the petition as withdrawn.

The petitioner had contended that Section 3 of the PLGA 2019 purported to dissolve all existing local governments before the expiry of their constitutional term of five years. He further said that the new law did not provide a definite period for the next election and the provincial government intended to appoint bureaucrats as administrators to fill the vacuum to be created after dissolution of current set-up.

The petitioner asked the court to declare that all those elected to office under the PLGA 2013 were entitled to complete their constitutional terms and suspend operation of the PLGA 2019 till completion of the term of the sitting set-up.

Meanwhile, Justice Sheikh adjourned for further arguments another identical petition moved by Lord Mayor retired Col Mubashir Javed and deputy mayors challenging curtailment of their powers under the PLGA 2019.

Advocate Ahsan Bhoon represented the petitioners, however, AGP Sukhera questioned maintainability of this petition also.

The counsel said he would satisfy the court on the maintainability if given an opportunity to present his arguments. The judge asked the counsel to come up with arguments on May 9. Lord Mayor Javed and all nine deputy mayors of Lahore were present in the court.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2019