LAHORE - The Lahore High Court yesterday maintained the law passed by the Punjab government that the minorities, youth, women and farmers would be elected on reserved seats, and dismissed a number of identical petitions challenging the law.
Justice Mamoon Rashid Shiekh had reserved the verdict and announced it on Friday. The law officers on behalf of the Punjab government appeared before the court and said that the petitions were not maintainable.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and others had filed the petitions. They contended that secret balloting was important for all kind of elections under Article 140 of the Constitution.
They argued that the law had deprived the members of minorities, youth, women and farmers from contesting election. They said it was against the Constitution. Section 13 of the Punjab Local Government Act 2015 was contrary to the Constitution and against the fundamental rights of the citizens, they argued.
The counsels prayed that section 13 of the Local Government Act should be set aside and order the government to hold secret balloting for all kind of elections including the LG polls.