LAHORE, June 12: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday issued notices to heads of various political parties including the PML-N, the PPP, the PTI and the PML-Q on a plea challenging election of women on reserved seats.

Advocate Tariq Aziz filed the petition and impleaded Nawaz Sharif, Makhdoom Ameen Fahim, Imran Khan and Chaudhry Shujaat Husain being heads of their respective political parties.

The lawyer argued that nomination of women members on reserved seats in the assemblies was against the basic structure of the Constitution.

He said election on reserved seats through proportionate representation was illegal and unconstitutional, as under Article 226 of the Constitution all elections shall be held by secret ballot.

He said election on reserved seats was in fact ‘selection’ which was not acceptable under the Constitution. He said the women elected to assemblies on reserved seats cost Rs1 billion per year in shape of perks and privileges to the exchequer.

The petitioner further said the party heads nominate women on personal liking and disliking as there was no criterion for the election on the reserved seats. He requested the court to declare the election on reserved seats as unconstitutional.

In this case the court had already issued notice to Election Commission.

Next hearing will be held on June 24.