Lahore, December 22, 2025: The Punjab government informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday that upcoming local government elections in the province will be held on a party basis, with political parties issuing official tickets to candidates. The announcement came during hearings on multiple petitions challenging the Punjab Local Government Act 2025.
Appearing before Justice Sultan Tanveer Ahmed, the Punjab assistant advocate general stated that the local government department had submitted its official report to the court. The development follows the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) October decision to conduct the polls under the 2025 Act.
During proceedings, petitioner Sheikh Imtiaz’s lawyer requested that the assistant advocate general’s statement regarding party-based elections be formally recorded. Representing the ECP, Law DG Khurram Shahzad highlighted that the commission had sent over 80 letters to the Punjab government in the past four years regarding local government polls. He added, “We are bound to hold elections under whatever act the government brings.” Shahzad further noted that the provincial government had set January 10 as the deadline for completing all arrangements for the elections.
Petitioners had argued that previous amendments to the Punjab Local Government Act 2017 mandated non-party elections, and they contended that shifting back to party-based polls under the 2025 Act could raise concerns about democratic fairness and representation.
The confirmation by the Punjab government marks a significant step in finalizing the electoral framework and ensures that political parties will play a central role in the forthcoming local government elections.
The court adjourned the hearing until Tuesday.
