Party-less polls: LUMS prof to assist LHC on local elections challenge

Bench asked Dr Rais to assist court on questions about new union council delimitation and party-less polls.

LAHORE:

A Lahore High Court division bench on Tuesday sought the assistance of political scientist Professor Rasul Bakhsh Rais of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) on petitions moved by opposition parties against the provincial government’s plan to hold party-less local elections.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial asked Dr Rais to assist the court on questions about new union council delimitation and party-less polls, which have been challenged by the PTI, the PPP, the PML-Q and others.

On Tuesday, the bench held proceedings in chamber following an administrative decision by the chief justice to halt court work after 11:30am on account of the demise of senior advocate Hakam Qureshi.

During the in-chamber hearing, the Punjab government’s counsel argued that the Constitution allowed political parties to participate in national and provincial elections, but did not require their participation in local election. Election symbols were not issued to candidates in local government polls for the same reason, he added. Local government institutions had an administrative role, he said, so local representatives should be elected on a non-political basis.

The hearing will resume on Wednesday (today).

Contempt notices issued

The Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued contempt of court notices to the Pakistan Railways deputy general manager, the Railways Police inspector general and a deputy superintendent of police.

Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi issued the notices on a contempt petition moved by Pakistan Railways officer Muhammad Ali Rajpar, who accused the respondents of removing him from his official residence in violation of a court order.

At the onset of the hearing, DSP Muhammad Iqbal produced Rajpar in court in handcuffs and reported that a case had been registered against him by Railways Police for corruption and abuse of power.

The judge told off the DSP for producing Rajpar in handcuffs, saying this was against the decorum of the courts. He said that the officers had made a mockery of his orders. Rajpar’s counsel said that a false case had been registered against his client.

The court issued contempt of court notices to the three officers and adjourned the case till November 7.

Singer granted bail

A banking court on Tuesday granted bail to Shahid Nazir, singer of hit song One Pound Fish, fame for allegedly defaulting on a loan.

The court had previously issued arrest warrants for Nazir as he had not been appearing before the court. A local leasing company has accused him of borrowing Rs6.6 million and then failing to pay it back.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2013.