LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has categorically rejected the local government law introduced by the PML-N government, terming it anti-democratic and unacceptable under any circumstances.

He said his party would neither accept this black law nor allow local government elections to be held under it.

He was speaking to journalists during his visit to a public referendum camp at Ghanta Ghar Chowk, Faisalabad, on Saturday.

According to the JI, on the third day of the four-day public referendum, a large number of men and women participated across the province. Thousands of polling camps established in all districts of Punjab witnessed enthusiasm. The four-day referendum will conclude on Sunday (today) evening, after which the results will be announced.

Mr Rehman said the PML-N, fearing the people of Punjab, had imposed a anti-democracy local government system. He added that the public referendum on the local government law had awakened the people of the province and it would accelerate the struggle for the establishment of empowered local bodies.

He said that in light of the referendum results, the JI would announce its future course of action, including surrounding the Punjab Assembly, and protests would continue until the withdrawal of the local government law.

The JI chief said that under the LG law, Lahore had been divided into nine parts and Faisalabad into five, adding that the ruling Sharif family was even afraid of an empowered mayor. He said ruling political parties were unwilling to devolve power, not only to the public but even to their own party workers. He pointed out that the law proposes non-party-based local government elections and that even the union council chairman would not be elected through direct public vote.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2026