ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced that it would address the unresolved matter of the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) reserved seats through open hearings.
A five-member bench, spearheaded by Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and comprising all four ECP members, is poised to take up this crucial issue on Tuesday.
The ECP’s decision to conduct open hearings reflects a commitment to transparency and fairness in resolving the matter at hand. The complex situation revolves around the fact that the ECP has not yet issued notifications for the returned candidates on 23 reserved seats in the National Assembly.
The genesis of the issue lies in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) choosing to field its candidates as independents during the general election after being denied the bat symbol for the party. Despite securing the position of the largest party in the National Assembly, PTI opted for a merger with the Sunni Ittehad Council, seeking official recognition as a political entity.
However, the SIC has encountered delays in being granted the reserved seats in the assembly. Simultaneously, the government is actively preparing to call a session for members to be sworn in, intensifying the urgency and intricacies of the situation.
The ECP’s commitment to open hearings underscores its dedication to addressing political complexities transparently and ensuring equitable representation for all relevant entities in the National Assembly. As this process unfolds, it will be closely watched for its implications on the political landscape in Pakistan.
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