PTI gets reserved seats; decisions of PHC and ECP set aside by the Supreme Court

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has announced the reserved verdict on Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) appeal against Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision that denied SIC reserved seats. The court said that PTI is eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah announced the verdict, which was decided with eight to five ratio. This is the majority decision, said Justice Mansoor.

SIC reserved seats case verdict expected today; case recap

The eight judges in the majority verdict are Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Shahid Waheed, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Irfan Saadat.

A detailed decision will be issued later.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was and is a political party, the court rules. Being stripped of an election symbol does not stop any political party from contesting elections, the court ruled, adding that PTI deserves the allocation of the reserved seats under concern.

The Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) notification regarding reserved seats is also declared null and void. The apex court has approved the SIC’s request to be assigned reserved seats.

PTI should submit the list to the ECP in this regard within 15 days, the order said, adding that the court’s decision will also be applicable to the Provincial Assemblies.

Justice Yahya Afridi gave additional notes saying that the SIC did not complete the process according to law.

SIC is not eligible for the reserved seats as they did not contest the elections, Jamal Khan Mandokhail said.