Rights groups urge Punjab CM to eview Local Government Act 2025, demand direct elections on reserved eeats
By Our Correspondents
LAHORE: Open Letter to Chief Minister of Punjab calls for the Review of Punjab Local Government Act 2025 asking for direct election on the reserved seats for minorities, women, laborers/peasants, and youth
In a joint letter to Chief Minister Punjab Ms. Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Chairman Rwadari Tehreek Pakistan Mr. Samson Salamat, Executive Director Christians’ True Spirit Ms. Katherine Sapna Karamat and President Human Friends Organization Mr. Sajid Christopher has called upon for the review of the Punjab Local Government Act 2025.
The letter states that the Act contradicts Article 140-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees administrative, political, and financial autonomy to elected local governments. Instead, it makes local bodies accountable to the provincial government and bureaucracy rather than to citizens because the Act introduces non-party based elections, which weaken political accountability, transparency, and policy clarity. Without party affiliation, citizens are unable to assess candidates’ ideological and developmental commitments. Furthermore, newly created bodies such as the District Municipal Coordination Forum and Joint Authorities place bureaucrats in dominant roles, significantly curtailing the authority of elected representatives and undermining genuine local self-governance.
The letter further says that one of the most alarming provisions is the indirect “selection system” for reserved seats. Instead of direct elections, eight general councilors are authorized to select representatives for minorities, women, laborers/peasants, and youth. This disenfranchises marginalized communities, encourages political manipulation and favoritism, and deepens their exclusion who are already suffering from ineffective proportional representation in provincial and national assemblies, face further political invisibility at the grassroots level.
Mr. Samson Salamat, Ms. Katrhine Sapna Karamat and Mr. Sajid Christopher has respectfully urged the Chief Minister Punjab to reconsider these provisions and ensure: direct elections on all reserved seats; restoration of party-based elections; strengthening of elected local bodies’ authority over bureaucratic control; and protection of political participation right of minorities and marginalized groups.
The authors of the open letter to the Chief Minister of Punjab, whose writ petition is also pending before the Lahore High Court, have earnestly expressed their hope that the Punjab government will uphold a truly representative and democratic local government system, ensuring its effective implementation to foster social harmony, inclusion, and sustainable development across Punjab.
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