On Tuesday, the political landscape in Pakistan witnessed a clash of perspectives as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) collectively voiced their dissent against the allocation of reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) convened to address pleas concerning the integration of independent members into the Sunni Ittehad Council and the subsequent allotment of reserved seats.
Chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, the five-member ECP bench heard arguments presented by legal representatives including Barrister Gohar Ali, Farogh Naseem, Azam Nazir Tarar, and Ata Tarar.
The focal point of contention emerged from the fact that the political parties opposed the granting of reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council on the grounds that the party failed to secure any seats through the electoral process. Instead, it purportedly garnered members after independent candidates, backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), joined its ranks.
During the hearing, Farooq H. Naek stressed the necessity of clarifying whether the Sunni Ittehad Council possessed the legitimate right to special seats. In response, Azam Nazir Tarar recommended redirecting the allocation of seats to other political entities, including the PML-N.
PTI’s legal counsel, Barrister Ali Zafar, asserted that external challenges to the request should not be entertained without first establishing the identity of the pleader and the rationale for their challenge.
Azam Nazir Tarar raised additional concerns, pointing out that the Sunni Ittehad Council had not submitted a priority list, prompting questions about the fate of those who submitted requests first.
In a move to streamline the proceedings, the Election Commission consolidated all requests related to the Sunni Ittehad Council and opted to adjourn the hearing, deferring a final decision to a later date.
