Punjab ready for LB polls: Azma says looking forward to date announcement

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that the Punjab government is fully prepared to conduct local body elections and is only waiting for the Election Commission to announce the date.

She said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N had won all recent by-elections across Punjab, and the government wants local body elections to be held as soon as possible so that people can express their political will at the grassroots level.

Azma Bokhari said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has every right to exercise its democratic freedoms, but only a list of 30 individuals had been submitted for entry into the Punjab Assembly premises — the Assembly is not a public crossroad where anyone may force their way in.

She revealed that those who accompanied Sohail Afridi pushed aside the security guard, broke doors, and forced an unlawful entry inside the Assembly premises. “Why can these people not engage in political activities like civilized human beings?” the Information Minister asked.

Azma Bokhari further said that despite the inappropriate language used within the Assembly limits, the Punjab government refrained from reacting. She noted that in the service area, Shafi Ullah Jan used unsuitable language against Mohsin Naqvi, yet the government still showed restraint.

She clarified that had the government taken action, it would have been accused of disrespecting guests — and if it chose to ignore the incident, that too would be portrayed as a fault. Talking to a private channel, she added that these individuals came to Lahore on what was essentially a study tour — they have no interest in dialogue or transparent political conduct, but seek nothing more than an NRO-style concession.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025