ECP reserves verdict on reserved seats for SIC

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has reserved its verdict in a case concerning the allotment of reserved seats for the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

The ECP has halted notifications for all 10 reserved seats for women in the National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and 21 out of a total of 26 reserved seats for women in the KP Assembly. The commission cited that the verdict is “pending before the commission,” particularly regarding the issue of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates affiliating with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

During today’s hearing, representatives from PTI, including Barrister Ali Zafar and Barrister Gohar, presented their arguments before the electoral oversight body. Zafar argued that according to the Constitution, independent Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) have the right to join any political party.

“The constitution explicitly mentions a political party, not a parliamentary party,” he emphasized, expressing concerns that denying reserved seats to the SIC could impact various crucial elections, including those for the Senate, prime minister, president, National Assembly speaker, and deputy speaker.

In response, the ECP highlighted the importance of submitting candidate lists for reserved seats before elections, a requirement that the SIC had reportedly not fulfilled.