ECP again seeks clarification from Supreme Court in reserved seats case

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) once again approached the Supreme Court on Thursday to seek an explanation of its verdict in the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) reserved seats’ case under which these seats were given to the PTI, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.   

In its application, the ECP said it wanted the apex court’s guidance, especially in the light of the Election Amendment Act.

The election commission said that the last time, following the court’s brief order in the case on July 12, 2024, when a clarification had been sought, the Act did not exist.

“Now when an Act of the parliament exists, the commission wants you to guide whether we should follow the Act or implement the SC’s verdict,” the ECP said.

Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja chaired the eighth ECP officials meeting to decide whether to implement the apex court’s verdict.

Members of the election commission, secretary, legal team and other officials were present on the occasion.

Sources told 24News that although there was a lack of consensus among participants of the meeting on the issue, still there were two members who were of the view that the commission should allot these seats to the PTI in the light of the SC’s decision.  

Three days ago, the SC had released a 70-page judgment on the reserved seats case of the SIC. SC Justice Mansoor Ali Shah wrote the verdict.

Prior to that, on July 12, the apex court had handed a major legal victory to the PTI, declaring it eligible for its share in the reserved seats in the National and four provincial assemblies.

The judgment, announced by a 13-member full-court bench, dealt a significant setback to the coalition government.

Reporters: Amanat Gishkori and Usman Khan