LAHORE: The opposition in the Punjab Assembly has announced that it would challenge the new local government law in court and would also hold protests on Friday against its passage.
As the assembly session began, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf member and opposition leader Mahmoodur Rashid strongly criticised the bill in which he was joined by other members of the opposition.
Opposition party stood on their seats to shout out their support for Rashid, following which they staged a walk out. After the walk out, opposition members stood on the stairs outside the assembly with tape over their mouths as a symbol of protest.
Under the local government law, there will be indirect election for municipal corporations’ mayors and deputy mayors as joint candidates. A municipal corporation having population of more than one million shall have two deputy mayors and thereafter there shall be one additional deputy mayor for every additional million.
A mayor and nine deputy mayors of the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation will also be elected ‘indirectly’ as joint candidates.
Speaking to media representatives, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah criticised the protest and declared the bill to be reflective of the aspirations of the people.
Sanaullah moreover demanded that the election commission should take notice of the White Paper issued by the PTI.
Despite the uproar that took place in the assembly, the Punjab Boilers and Pressure Vessels (Amendment) Bill 2013 was passed, following which the session was adjourned until 9am Friday.