Punjab rejects ECP reply to SC on local govt law

Published March 18, 2021
The special committee stated the minutes of meetings issued by the ECP had automatically refuted its statement in the Supreme Court. — AFP/File
The special committee stated the minutes of meetings issued by the ECP had automatically refuted its statement in the Supreme Court. — AFP/File

LAHORE: Punjab local government and community development department secretary Noorul Amin Mengal says the Election Commission of Pakistan’s statement before the Supreme Court that the Punjab government did not inform it before amending the Local Government Act 2019 “is contrary to the facts”.

Briefing a meeting of Chief Minister’s Special Committee on Local Government Act 2019, held under the chairmanship of senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan at chief minister’s secretariat on Wednesday, Mr Mengal said the fact was the law minister, chief secretary and local government department secretary had appeared before the ECP twice on behalf of the Punjab government and informed the commission that the Punjab government wanted to amend the Punjab Local Government Act 2019. It was acknowledged by the commission in the minutes of its meetings, he claimed.

The special committee stated the minutes of meetings issued by the ECP had automatically refuted its statement in the Supreme Court.

The committee expressed its “grave concern” that the ECP had weakened the Punjab government’s position by making a contradictory statement before the Supreme Court. “Had the facts been placed before the honourable court, it would not have passed the remarks about Punjab that were made in the hearing on March 15,” a committee member said.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Basharat Raja, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and Chaudhry Zaheeruddin.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.