LAHORE: The Pakistan Peoples Party has announced its intention to challenge the newly enacted Local Government Act 2025 in court, denouncing it as a replica of General Zia-ul-Haq's non-party system from 1985. Senior party leaders characterized the legislation as fundamentally flawed and contradictory in nature during a press conference held at the People's Secretariat in Model Town following a consultative meeting of the Lahore Division regarding upcoming local government elections.

 

The press conference was addressed by prominent PPP leaders including Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman, Asif Hashmi, Faisal Mir, and Nargis Khan. Other notable party members in attendance included Majeed Ghauri, Sabt Hassan, Dr. Ayesha Shaukat, Dr. Zarar Yousaf, Shahnaz Kanwal, Khurram Farooq, Waheed Lodhi, and Dr. Waseem Mayo.

 

Speaking to the media, Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman stated that local government elections are approaching and this will mark the first time that independent candidates will be required to join a political party. He questioned why the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which would need to contest these elections independently under the new framework, appeared hesitant about the arrangement. He revealed that the Pakistan Legal Forum and other organizations are currently examining the legislation.

 

Mian Misbah emphasized that the role of members of the National or Provincial Assembly should not be limited to installing streetlights or paving roads. He argued that ordinary citizens require facilities delivered directly to their doorsteps and genuine improvements in their daily lives. The PPP leader announced that his party intends to field candidates for all seats in Lahore, requiring more than five thousand candidates across the city. He proposed the formation of a committee to oversee the selection process for local government candidates.

 

Furthermore, Mian Misbah called upon Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, President Asif Ali Zardari, and the Governor of Punjab to thoroughly review the legislation and implement necessary amendments. He expressed concerns about the fundamental nature of the law and its implications for local governance.

 

Asif Hashmi raised pointed questions about why a party that claims to have undertaken extensive development work throughout Lahore and Punjab would opt for non-party elections. He suggested that the PML-N's decision reflects fear and insecurity, arguing that if the ruling party is confident about its development record, it should welcome party-based local government elections rather than avoiding them.

 

Faisal Mir, a senior party leader who organized the consultative meeting, declared that the PPP would not concede victory to the PML-N without a fight, as it allegedly did in the 2015 elections. He pledged that the party would contest the upcoming local government elections with full vigor and determination. Mir announced that the party's local government election campaign would commence from the Johar Town office under the supervision of Majeed Ghauri. He expressed hope that the Chief Minister would ensure that successful PPP candidates would not become victims of manipulative politics.

 

Responding to questions from journalists, Faisal Mir revealed that the party leadership has proposed granting tickets for the local government elections to all individuals who held tickets in Lahore from 2007 to 2024. He noted that the majority of participants in the consultative meeting consisted of candidates who had previously contested local government elections. Mir highlighted that no other political party has begun preparations for local government elections as comprehensively as the PPP.

 

He clarified the party's strategic position, stating that if local government elections are conducted on a party basis, the PPP would welcome that arrangement. However, if they are held as non-party elections, the party would release its own list of candidates to protect them from horse trading and political manipulation. Mir confirmed that the PPP would formally invite applications for local government election tickets and successful candidates would be administered oaths.

 

Nargis Khan, President of the Women's Wing of PPP Lahore, expressed strong criticism of the PML-N, asserting that even before the elections have officially commenced, the ruling party's negative intentions have been exposed. She pledged that women from the Pakistan Peoples Party would participate in substantial numbers in the upcoming local government elections, demonstrating the party's commitment to inclusive political representation at the grassroots level.

 

The PPP's announcement signals the beginning of what appears to be a contentious electoral period, with the party positioning itself as a strong opponent to both the new legal framework and the provincial government's approach to local governance.