PPP, PML-N lock horns over LG polls

LAHORE: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) have once again come face-to-face over the issue of Local Government elections, Geo News reported Wednesday.

The PML-N leadership has termed as unconstitutional the writing of the letter by Governor Punjab to the Chief Minister for holding LG elections and will soon come up with a sharp response to it.

President Asif Ali Zardari’s announcement pertaining to holding LG polls ahead of the general elections has sparked a new debate among political parties.

The Chief Election Commissioner has also called a meeting on September 6 in this regard.

The opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz went to the extent of demanding of the Punjab government to announce holding LG elections immediately or else a strong protest campaign will be launched against the provincial administration.

He said to his surprise the Punjab government has on one hand presented a local government bill 2012 before the Punjab Assembly while on the other hand it continues to stick to a stance that the LG polls would be held after the general elections.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has said that it is well-prepared to hold General and LG elections.

The PPP, however, appears ready to hold LG election before general elections but PML-N is describing it as rigging.