Unopposed Victory in PP-167 Declared Unconstitutional.
Lahore: (UMAR HAYAT CH.) Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore Ziauddin Ansari Advocate has said that millions of citizens participated in a four-day public referendum and exercised their democratic right to decisively reject the Punjab government’s controversial, undemocratic and anti-people Local Government Act. He termed the referendum a clear manifestation of public awareness, democratic consciousness, and complete lack of trust in the government’s policies.Addressing a large protest demonstration held in constituency PP-167, Ziauddin Ansari declared the existing Local Government Act a “black law” and announced strong public resistance against it. He warned that soon protests would intensify, including a siege of the Punjab Assembly and the Chief Minister’s House.He stated that the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), through the Local Government Act, is attempting to promote horse-trading across Punjab, a move Jamaat-e-Islami will not allow under any circumstances. He further announced that the public movement against the Local Government Act has been intensified and a sit-in outside the Chief Minister’s House will be announced soon.The Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore strongly condemned the unopposed victory of the PML-N candidate in PP-167, declaring it a blatant violation of the Constitution, law, and democratic norms. He alleged that nomination papers of handpicked candidates were deliberately filed and later withdrawn to pave the way for an unopposed win. He asserted that Jamaat-e-Islami will challenge this unconstitutional act in court and does not accept the unopposed victory. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami is fully prepared to contest elections and demands fresh polling in PP-167.addressing the protest, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore West Ali Murtaza Hasni ، PP-167 candidate Chaudhry Abdul Qayyum Gujjar, along with other party leaders, also condemned the alleged rigging and demanded immediate re-election. Deputy Secretary Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore Qaiser Sharif, President KI Youth Jibran Butt and a large number of party workers participated in the demonstration.The speakers warned that if fresh elections are not announced immediately, the scope of protests will be expanded across the city. Ziauddin Ansari further alleged that the Returning Officer, acting on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, forcibly stopped Jamaat-e-Islami and other candidates, and that the party’s candidate and legal counsel were abducted. He said such controversial and partisan conduct in the PP-167 by-elections is unacceptable.He demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan immediately declare the notification null and void, issue a fresh election schedule for PP-167, and ensure a level playing field for all political parties. He emphasized that voters must be provided a free, transparent, and impartial environment to exercise their right to vote.Concluding his address, the Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore warned that if the public mandate is not respected and meaningful reforms are not introduced in the Local Government Act, the public protest movement will be further organized and expanded. Jamaat-e-Islami will continue its struggle until the protection of democratic rights and the establishment of a truly empowered local government system.
