PESHAWAR: A simmering dispute over the oath-taking of women elected on reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has resurfaced just weeks before the Senate elections scheduled for July 21, sparking fears of a looming constitutional crisis.
Opposition parties have begun consulting legal experts to press for the immediate convening of an assembly session to administer the pending oaths. Sources warn that failure to do so could jeopardize the legitimacy of the upcoming Senate polls, as the newly elected women members must be sworn in beforehand.
Officials familiar with the matter told reporters that the Speaker of the KP Assembly is actively considering options to convene the session soon, aiming to comply with court directives and avoid any legal or political fallout.
The delay in administering the oaths has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who argue that ignoring court orders not only defies constitutional norms but also weakens democratic processes.
“This has gone on long enough,” an opposition leader said, warning that any further postponement would be intolerable and legally indefensible.
The oath-taking controversy has already triggered multiple court hearings and remains a flashpoint in the province’s turbulent political landscape.
