Speaker challenges implementation of SC verdict on reserved seats under amended election act

19/09/2024

In a letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq challenged and stated on Thursday that the Supreme Court’s judgment on reserved seats “cannot be implemented under the Amended Election Act, 2017.”

In July, the Supreme Court ruled that Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities, dealing a significant blow to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition.

PTI-backed candidates, who had contested and won the February 8 elections as independents after their party lost its election symbol, later joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) to form a coalition of convenience.

The ECP raised concerns about whom within the PTI to contact for verification, due to the party’s lack of structure and unrecognized intra-party elections. This led the election regulator to consider seeking further instructions from the court.

However, last week the Supreme Court rejected the ECP’s “misconceived” request for clarification and ordered the “immediate implementation” of its original ruling.

Earlier today, the ECP remained undecided on how to implement the Supreme Court’s decision, holding a meeting to discuss the court’s judgment and its September 14 directive, sources told Dawn.

In response to these developments, the speaker’s letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, acknowledged the Supreme Court’s decision, stating, “The Honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan… has directed the [ECP]… to allow independent returned candidates to join another political party months after already joining a political party as a result of the General Elections 2024.”

The letter also noted that the court’s ruling was issued on July 7, while amendments to the Elections Act, 2017 were passed on August 7 with the president’s approval, highlighting changes made to Sections 66 and 104-A.