Under the Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Act 2025, the government has proposed that representatives for reserved seats will no longer be chosen through direct public voting and instead will be selected within local councils through an internal process. Although the government argues that this system will make elections cheaper and more organized, civil society groups have termed it a departure from democratic norms.
According to the Punjab government, the new model ensures that farmers, women, and minorities receive representation in proportion to their population. Provincial Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq stated that this method is “free from electoral pressure and transparent,” allowing marginalized groups to choose their “true representatives” themselves. Critics, however, contend that it limits the fundamental right to vote since decisions for reserved seats will now be made by a few elected council members rather than the general public.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has condemned the amendment as an “attack on the foundations of democracy”, arguing that while certain groups are given the right to vote, they are denied the right to choose their representatives. Sampson Salamat, Head of the Movement for Tolerance, stated that this law will further marginalize politically weaker groups, especially women, minorities, laborers, and the youth.
“A similar system of proportional representation has existed in national and provincial assemblies since 2002 and has proven ineffective for minorities therefore, extending it to local governance represents a democratic regression,” said Salamat. Similarly, Dr Hassan Askari, a political analyst, opined that the issue is not only about the electoral system but also about testing the philosophy of devolution of power. “If reserved-seat representatives are not directly elected by the public, they will not be able to truly represent their communities’ issues,” noted Dr Askari.
The new system has already been challenged in the Lahore High Court. On November 4th, 2025, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) filed a petition arguing that several clauses of the Punjab Local Government Act conflict with Articles 17, 32, and 140-A of the Constitution. PTI leader Ijaz Shafi stated that the new mechanism “strips voters of their fundamental right” and undermines the autonomy of political parties. Shafi requested the court to issue a stay order suspending the implementation of the disputed provisions.
The Jamaat-e-Islami too has filed a separate petition, calling the delay in local government elections a violation of the Constitution. The petitioners argue that the nomination of representatives through selection contradicts Pakistan’s constitutional principles of equality, transparency, and public mandate. They contend that allowing a handful of general councilors at the Union Council level to make these decisions cannot substitute for the will of the people. The court has sought a response from the Punjab government, and the case is currently under hearing.
Civil rights lawyer Abdullah Malik implored that the law creates discrimination among citizens by effectively making certain groups “second-class citizens” hence it was in violation of Article 25 (Equality of Citizens) and Article 17 (Freedom of Political Participation) of the Constitution. The controversy emerges at a time when Punjab is preparing for its local elections. Observers note that if the court strikes down the law, it would constitute a major blow to the provincial government; but if upheld, it could define the future of Pakistan’s local democratic structure.
In the meanwhile, critics warn that replacing elections with internal selections could expose local governments to political manipulation, nepotism, and bureaucratic influence, while the government maintains that the model represents a reform aimed at ensuring genuine representation for marginalized groups.