LHC orders LB polls in Punjab cantonment board on party-basis

LAHORE (92 News) - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct local bodies (LB) elections on party-basis in the cantonment boards of Punjab. In a short verdict, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah ruled that conducting polls on non-party basis was unconstitutional. The court gave its order on hearing petitions challenging local bodies polls in Punjab on non-party basis. The court added that decision would not affect the election schedule. According to the ECP, nomination papers will be scrutinised from April 2 to April 4, while April 6 is the last date for filing appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers. The polling day is April 25 while declaration of results by the Returning Officers will be made on April 28. The local government polls will be held in the 42 cantonment areas across the country.