ISLAMABAD, Sept 23 (Alliance News): The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a detailed 70-page verdict regarding the reserved seats case, affirming the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a political party eligible for its quota of seats.
The ruling was authored by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and comes in light of recent communications from National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq concerning the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) handling of the matter.
The judgment clarifies that the lack of an electoral symbol does not impede a political party’s constitutional right to participate in elections.
The court emphasized that the PTI, founded by Imran Khan, has won seats in both national and provincial assemblies, and directed the ECP to notify the party’s members regarding reserved seats.
The Supreme Court criticized the ECP for its March 1 decision, which contradicted the Constitution and had revoked the PTI’s electoral symbol due to alleged irregularities in intra-party elections.
The court labeled the ECP’s actions as “unconstitutional and unlawful,” particularly highlighting its treatment of PTI candidates as independents in official forms.
Furthermore, the verdict underscored the ECP’s failure to uphold its duty as a “guarantor institution” of democratic processes.
The court expressed surprise at the ECP’s behavior, noting that it acted more as a contesting party rather than an impartial arbiter.
The ruling asserted that significant errors by the ECP warrant judicial intervention, stating that the case transcends ordinary civil proceedings due to its implications for democracy and the electorate’s right to choose representatives.
