ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan is expected to announce a crucial verdict tomorrow on a case revolving around the allocation of reserved seats to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa chaired a special session of the 13-member full bench today to deliberate on the pending verdict related to this contentious issue.
This development follows the Supreme Court’s decision to reserve judgment on appeals filed by the SIC against the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) ruling. The PHC had upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to deny reserved seats to the SIC, citing their failure to comply with the requirement of submitting a candidate list within the specified deadline.
The case originated when over 80 PTI-backed independent candidates won seats in the February 8 elections and subsequently joined the SIC, seeking to claim reserved seats designated for minorities and women. The ECP’s decision not to allocate these seats was affirmed by the PHC, prompting the SIC to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
The outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision carries significant political ramifications, potentially impacting the composition of the National Assembly. Previously, the PHC’s decision to withhold seats from the SIC had altered the majority status of the ruling coalition within the assembly.
Both the federal government, represented by Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, and the ECP have staunchly opposed the SIC’s plea in court. They argue that reserved seats should rightfully be allocated to political parties that participated in the elections, won seats, and adhered to all procedural requirements outlined by electoral law.
The impending verdict from the Supreme Court will provide crucial clarity on this highly contested issue. It stands to potentially reshape the political landscape of Pakistan by either upholding or overturning the lower court’s decision regarding the allocation of reserved seats in the country’s legislature. The decision is eagerly awaited by all stakeholders involved, as it promises to set a precedent for future electoral processes and the distribution of reserved seats based on legal and constitutional principles.
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