The eight-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has provided further clarification regarding the allocation of Parliament-reserved seats to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
In response to a request from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the judges stated that their verdict from July 12 remains effective and cannot be invalidated by amendments to the Election Act. This clarification reinforces the court’s position, ensuring that prior rulings are not affected by subsequent legislative changes.
The judges noted that the amendment to the Election Act does not apply retroactively, and the ECP is obligated to implement the court’s decision without requiring additional clarification.
In July, the Supreme Court overturned decisions made by the Peshawar High Court and the election commission, declaring the PTI eligible for reserved seats concerning the Sunni Ittehad Council case. The ruling, which passed with an 8-5 majority and was announced by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, is part of a live-broadcast session involving a 13-member full court. All judges affirmed the PTI’s status as a legal and competent political party.
The court determined that losing an election symbol does not revoke a party’s right to participate in elections. The ECP presented data on 80 candidates to the Supreme Court. The court further stated that 39 candidates affiliated with the PTI will be recognized as successful candidates, while the remaining 41 candidates have 15 days to submit affidavits affirming their association with the PTI.
The PTI has also been instructed to provide its list for reserved seats within the next 15 days. The court clarified that if the ECP or PTI seeks further clarification, they can approach the court. Additionally, the Supreme Court ruled that the election for additional reserved seats is null and void, affirming that the PTI will receive reserved seats in both the National and provincial assemblies.
The court ordered the ECP to issue notifications for the reserved seats based on the PTI’s list, and this decision will apply to the Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh Assemblies as well.
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