The Punjab government informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday that upcoming local government elections in the province will be conducted on a party basis, with political parties issuing tickets to their candidates.
The statement was made by Punjab’s assistant advocate general during a hearing on multiple petitions challenging the Local Government Act 2025. Addressing Justice Sultan Tanveer Ahmed, the law officer said that the local government department had already submitted its report to the court.
The matter stems from the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) October decision to hold local government elections in Punjab under the Punjab Local Government Act, 2025.
During the proceedings, counsel for petitioner Sheikh Imtiaz requested that the assistant advocate general’s statement regarding party-based elections be formally recorded by the court.
Appearing on behalf of the ECP, Director General (Law) Khurram Shahzad told the bench that the commission had sent nearly 80 letters to the Punjab government over the past four years regarding the conduct of local government polls. He added that the ECP is legally bound to hold elections under whatever law is enacted by the provincial government.
Shahzad further informed the court that the Punjab government had set January 10 as the deadline for completing arrangements for the elections.
Following the submissions, the court adjourned the hearing until Tuesday.
It is worth noting that the petitioner argued that amendments to the Punjab Local Government Act 2017 led to local government elections being held on a non-party basis, which, according to the petition, undermines democratic principles.
