LAHORE: Punjab Secretary for Local Government Noorul Amin Mengal on Tuesday told the Lahore High Court that a plan for the restoration of the local government system in the light of the Supreme Court’s decision had been forwarded to the cabinet.

Asked about the time needed for the approval of the plan, the secretary informed Justice Ayesha A. Malik that the cabinet would take its decision within two weeks.

A counsel for the LG representatives contended that the government was now seeking time for further two weeks. He said had contempt proceedings been initiated against the government authorities, the decision in the matter would have not been delayed.

The judge directed the secretary to ensure presentation of the plan before the cabinet within two weeks and submit a report before the court.

Lahore city’s lord mayor retired Col Mubashir Javed and other representatives of the local government filed the petitions. They submitted that the provincial government failed to restore the local governments despite the fact that the Supreme Court issued its detailed judgement. They said the SC had ordered restoration of local bodies in the province after declaring their dissolution as unconstitutional.

The petitioners asked the court to declare that the term of office of a LG formed under Article 140-A of the Constitution and Punjab Local Government Act (PLGA) 2013 was five years which a LG was sanctioned to complete. They urged the court to restrain the government from announcing the election schedule in the province till a final decision of the petition.

On March 25, a three-judge bench of the SC had ordered the restoration of local bodies in the province after declaring their dissolution as unconstitutional.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2021