LAHORE, July 3: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Wednesday appointed Advocate Azhar Siddique as amicus curie to assist court on a petition seeking enforcement of constitutional obligation of provincial government to hold local government election within stipulated time.

Local Councils Association Punjab (LCAP) President Syed Asghar Shah Gilani filed this petition in 2010.

At the start of the hearing on Wednesday, an additional advocate general told the court that draft of the Local Government Bill 2013 was pending for approval with the parliamentary committee. He said the committee would send the bill to the cabinet for its formal approval and then the local election would be held.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that more than three years had lapsed but the government failed to hold the election. The tenure of the local government is four years.

The CJ asked Advocate Siddique to assist the court on the responsibility of the provincial government to hold the local polls under Articles 32 and 140-A of the Constitution. The CJ adjourned further hearing till Sept 9.

The petitioner had taken a plea that the previous government through a notification had announced that it would conduct the polls on July 11, 2013. He said as per schedule there was not much time left in the date announced by the government.

He sought court’s direction for the provincial government to hold the local government election.

Haj quotaThe Lahore High Court chief justice on Wednesday sought a reply from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on a fresh application complaining illegality in allocation of Haj quota among newly-registered top 58 Haj Group Organisers (HGOs).

Travel Shop and other tour operators filed the application through Advocate Azhar Siddique and stated that only 12 in the list of top 58 newly-enrolled HGOs displayed on the website of the ministry possessed Umrah licenses for the year 2012.

The counsel pointed out that without such licenses Umrah service could not be provided, therefore, the remaining 46 companies were not eligible to compete for allocation of quota. He said a similar exercise of top 66 newly-enrolled HGOs was undertaken by the ministry for Haj 2012.

He pointed out that except one defaulting company, the remaining 65 had Umrah licenses and a substantial experience in the field.

The counsel pointed out that only eight of the said toppers for Haj 2012 were included in the current ranking of 58 HGOs. He alleged that the ranking made by the ministry was unfair and prejudiced. He further alleged that defect was meant actually to tarnish and scuttle the bidding process closing on July 7.

The chief justice issued a notice to the ministry’s authorities for July 5 when the main case about allocation of Haj quota is already fixed for hearing.

The CJ ordered that all 65 HGOs ranked as toppers for Haj 2012, except the one defaulting company, shall be allowed to participate in the bidding process for Haj quota licenses for Haj 2013.