Shuffle: LG petition sent to another judge

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Justice Manzoor Ahmad Malik on Thursday sent a petition seeking direct election to seats reserved for women, labourers, farmers and communities members in local governments to Justice Mamoon Rasheed Sheikh for hearing. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen had filed the petition. He said that under Article 140 of the Constitution, all elections, including local government elections, must be held through a secret ballot.  “However, the government has decided to elect women, minority members, farmers and labourers through nominations in the local government elections. This is a violation of the Constitution. There is a conspiracy to benefit favourites of the ruling party. It should be declared null and void,” he said in the petition. Earlier, Justice Ejazul Ahsan had declined to hear the petition and sent it back to LHC chief justice.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2015.