Local body elections: Shahbaz approves new local govt system draft

Shahbaz tells a high-level meeting hat the government wanted to hold local body elections at the earliest.

ISLAMABAD:

After a stern warning by the Supreme Court to hold local body elections, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved the draft proposals for a new local government system in the province.

Shahbaz told a high-level meeting on Saturday that the government wanted to hold local body elections at the earliest.

The approved draft proposals of Punjab Local Government Bill will now be presented before the standing committee of Punjab Assembly.

In a bid to avoid political controversies, the provincial government has also decided to refer the issue of delimitation of the constituencies to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry stated on Thursday that the ECP and all provincial governments must hold local body elections not later than September.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2013.