The Supreme Court of Pakistan is expected to announce a verdict on the reserved seats case involving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) tomorrow, July 12. Here are the key points related to this case:
The issue began when over 80 PTI-backed independent candidates won the February 8 elections and joined the SIC to claim seats reserved for minorities and women. However, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) denied the allocation, citing the party’s failure to submit its list of candidates. The Peshawar High Court (PHC) upheld the ECP’s decision, which was then challenged by the SIC in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court suspended the PHC’s verdict and the ECP’s decision, temporarily depriving the ruling coalition of its two-thirds majority in the lower house. The federal government and the ECP have opposed the SIC’s plea, arguing that reserved seats should only be allocated to political parties that contested the elections, won at least one seat, and submitted a candidate list by the stipulated deadline.
A three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Athar Minallah, and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar took up the SIC’s plea on June 6 and suspended the PHC’s verdict as well as the ECP’s decision on the said issue.
The allocation of reserved seats holds significant political implications. The PTI-backed independent candidates, who make up the majority of the opposition benches, lost as many as 77 reserved seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies due to the PHC’s verdict. The PHC verdict allowed the allocation of reserved seats to the ruling coalition comprising the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and others, leading to them securing a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.
This case has major implications for the political landscape in Pakistan, as the allocation of these reserved seats could shift the balance of power in the legislature. The Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether the PTI-backed SIC will gain these crucial seats or whether the current allocation favoring the ruling coalition will stand.
The ruling on this case will not only impact the immediate political dynamics but also set a precedent for how reserved seats are allocated in future elections. The decision is eagerly awaited by both the PTI-backed SIC and the ruling coalition, as it will affect their respective strengths in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.
The arguments presented to the Supreme Court have highlighted the complexities involved in the allocation of reserved seats and the importance of adherence to procedural requirements by political parties. The court’s ruling will provide clarity on the interpretation of election laws and regulations governing the allocation of reserved seats in Pakistan.
