The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued a stay order halting the oath-taking of reserved seat MPAs, following a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P). The party challenged the Election Commission’s allocation of reserved seats, claiming miscalculation and unfair distribution.
PTI-P Challenges Seat Allocation
A two-member PHC bench, comprising Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr. Khurshid Iqbal, heard the petition. PTI-P’s legal representative, Advocate Sultan Muhammad Khan, argued that the party, which won two general seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, deserved more than one women’s reserved seat. He claimed PTI-P was entitled to two women’s seats and one minority seat.
When questioned, the lawyer confirmed that PTI-P had submitted a priority list for its reserved seat nominees. The petition urged the court to stop the oath-taking of members allegedly given seats unfairly.
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Court’s Interim Decision
In response, the PHC directed the Election Commission to submit its explanation and temporarily barred the disputed members from taking their oaths. The stay will remain in place until the next hearing, giving time for the matter to be reviewed.
Supreme Court’s Parallel Ruling
Meanwhile, a recent Supreme Court verdict adds further weight to the reserved seats issue. The 7-3 majority decision overturned the earlier July 12, 2024, ruling and reinstated the verdict of the Peshawar High Court.
The Supreme Court noted that review petitions filed against the previous judgment were valid and accepted, dismissing civil appeals filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). The court will release detailed reasons for the ruling at a later date.
SIC Calls for Full Court Order
In a related move, SIC requested that the Supreme Court issue the decision as a formal “Order of the Court” with signatures from all participating judges. The legal and political implications of this complex case are likely to continue unfolding in the coming weeks.
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