ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party has strongly rejected the Punjab government’s proposed Local Government Act and the recent delimitation of union councils, terming them a direct assault on democracy, public representation, and constitutional autonomy.

Speaking at a party meeting in Rawalpindi, PPP District President Mian Khurram Rasool declared that the provincial government’s framework is designed to facilitate political engineering, horse-trading, and the systematic weakening of grassroots leadership rather than empowering local communities.

The meeting, which brought together a wide range of former local government representatives, councillors, minority leaders, and party workers, unanimously condemned the proposed indirect election of union council chairmen.

Participants argued that bypassing direct public voting directly violates the public mandate and opens the doors for backroom political bargaining.

Addressing the gathering, Rasool alleged that the new union council boundaries completely disregard geographical, social, and administrative realities. He stated that the arbitrary division of communities has already created widespread confusion and mistrust among the public.

He strongly criticised the Punjab government for executing these critical legislative and boundary changes without holding meaningful consultations with political parties, elected representatives, or local stakeholders.

Announcing the party’s future course of action, Rasool revealed that the PPP is forming a committee of senior legal experts to challenge the Local Government Act and the controversial delimitations across all constitutional, legal, and political forums.

Furthermore, the party plans to convene an All-Parties Local Government Convention in the near future to unite various political stakeholders and formulate a joint strategy.

Rasool reaffirmed that the PPP would refuse to compromise on the democratic rights of local government representatives.

He pledged that the party will forcefully raise these grievances before its central leadership, legislative assemblies, the Election Commission, and all relevant institutions until transparent delimitations and a genuine devolution of power are achieved.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026