LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a major ruling regarding local body elections in Punjab, restraining the authorities from issuing the final delimitation notification for Union Councils No. 3 and 4 in Multan.
Delivering a six-page verdict on a petition filed by Muhammad Nadeem, Justice Jawad Hassan emphasized that constituency delimitation is not merely drawing boundaries on a map but is fundamental to safeguarding the right to vote and ensuring transparency in the electoral process.
The petitioner had challenged an order issued by the Regional Election Commissioner/Delimitation Authority, Multan, arguing that objections were accepted after the legally prescribed deadline, altering the initial delimitation published earlier.
Justice Jawad Hassan observed that delimitation must be an impartial process and should strictly consider factors such as population, geographical compactness, administrative limits, transportation routes, and public convenience.
The court warned against bias or political influence in drawing boundaries, noting that any inequality in vote value undermines electoral integrity. Consequently, the LHC issued notices to the Election Commission and other parties for August 25, seeking clarification while barring the gazette notification for the specified UCs.
For official updates, delimitation notices, and information regarding regional local body elections in Pakistan, citizens and interested parties can consult official portals:
Check official delimitation schedules, notifications, and electoral rules on the Local Government and Community Development Department Portal.
Verify general election details, voter rules, and official announcements directly on the Election Commission of Pakistan Official Portal.