Cantonment boards case enters crucial stage

The constitutional petitions filed by the former vice presidents of Rawalpindi, Chaklala and Wah cantonment boards against the Ministry of Defence's decision to dissolve 44 cantonment boards across the country and replace them with three-member caretaker boards have entered a crucial phase at the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court.

Justice Raza Ahmed Qureshi of the Rawalpindi Bench presented two options to the representative of the Ministry of Defence and the deputy attorney general regarding the petitions.

The first option is to withdraw the letter issued for the dissolution of the cantonment boards.

The second is to submit before the court the notification issued by the Military Lands and Cantonments Department regarding the formation of three-member caretaker boards after the dissolution of the boards.

The court directed the ministry to decide on either of the two options after consultation and present its decision before the court on Tuesday, December 16. The hearing was adjourned until today, and a short order on the petitions is expected.

The petitions have been filed by former vice president of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board Malik Munir Ahmed and the vice president of Wah Cantonment Board. The petitioners contended that the constitutional term of the cantonment boards ends on March 31, 2026, and dissolving them five months earlier is unconstitutional and illegal.

They pleaded that all dissolved boards be immediately restored and elected representatives be allowed to continue serving the public. The petitioners also maintained that the Election Commission has supported their stance. After detailed arguments from lawyers representing both sides, the High Court adjourned the hearing until Tuesday, while placing the two aforementioned options before the Ministry of Defence.