PTI asks Supreme Court to enforce ruling on reserved seats

By Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has petitioned the Supreme Court to enforce its July 12 verdict granting the party eligibility for reserved seats in parliament.

The PTI’s petition requests the court to direct the ECP to recognize party affiliations confirmed by PTI Chairman Gohar Khan and General Secretary Omer Ayub, and implement the July 12 verdict.

“Such other relief as is deemed just and fit in all the circumstances of the case may also graciously be granted,” Khan’s party requested in its petition.

The PTI’s application, filed through counsel Aziz Bhandari, seeks dismissal of the ECP’s review petition and directs the electoral body to accept affidavits of allegiance from independent lawmakers who joined the party. The PTI argues that the ECP’s objections are “wrongful” and intended to delay implementation of the court’s order.

The Supreme Court’s July 12 ruling granted PTI reserved seats for women and minorities in all legislatures, potentially making it the largest party in the National Assembly. However, the ECP has raised concerns about PTI’s organizational structure and the legitimacy of independent candidates joining the party.

The PTI maintains that its organizational structure is in place, with intra-party elections held on March 3, 2024, and details submitted to the ECP. The party accuses the ECP of acting in bad faith to deny it its rightful share of reserved seats.

The July 12 ruling in favor of PTI party has dealt a significant blow to the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, potentially threatening its two-thirds majority in parliament.

The PTI had contested the Feb. 8 national election as independents after being barred from participating due to a technicality regarding intra-party polls. Despite winning 93 seats, the ECP initially denied them 70 reserved seats, citing ineligibility.

The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) and PTI-backed independents appealed the decision, leading to the Supreme Court ruling that declared PTI eligible for reserved seats. The government has since filed a review petition, arguing that PTI was not entitled to relief as it did not plead the case before the ECP, Peshawar High Court, or Supreme Court.

The PTI is currently entitled to around 78 reserved seats in national and provincial assemblies. The verdict has bolstered Khan’s supporters, who claim electoral fraud by the ECP and then caretaker government.