ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has called a meeting to discuss the Supreme Court’s verdict on reserved seats, a local news channel reported on Tuesday, citing sources. The meeting is set to take place on July 18 to review the implementation of the apex court’s decision regarding the allocation of reserved seats.
A 13-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, ruled in favor of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stating that the party is eligible for the allocation of reserved seats. This decision represents a significant setback for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah announced the 8-5 majority verdict, overturning the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) order that had upheld the ECP’s decision to deny the reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
The majority decision was opposed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Naeem Afghan, Justice Yahya Afridi, and Justice Ameenuddin Khan.
The ECP meeting will see Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan and officials from the legal wing briefing the commission on the Supreme Court’s ruling and the options for its implementation.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has filed a review petition. The PML-N is urging the apex court to withdraw its July 12 order on reserved seats.
In its peal, the PML-N argued that the PTI was not even a party in the reserved seats case as it was SIC which approached the Supreme Court.
The PML-N plea stated that SC’s order to award reserved seats to PTI on the SIC plea is tantamount to a violation of law.
The PML-N in its petition has made the SIC and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as respondents.
