Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reserved seats saga continues, PHC moved once again

PESHAWAR: The oath-taking ceremony of members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly at Governor House has been challenged in Peshawar High Court (PHC).

The application in the PHC has been submitted on behalf of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.

The petition includes the federal government, PHC Registrar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) among other parties.

The plea argues that KP Assembly Speaker did not refuse to take oath from the members. The oath-taking ceremony was delayed due to lack of needed quorum, it said. The plea said that the assembly session had begun, but the Speaker had adjourned the session, on the indication of quorum, until July 24.

The petition argues that taking oath from members at Governor House is unconstitutional, adding that Article 65 of the Constitution requires members of the assembly to take oath in the assembly house. The petitioners argued that they were not given an opportunity to be heard and the PHC Chief Justice nominated the KP Governor for the oath.

The petition also said that CM Gandapur had summoned the assembly session on the instructions of the ECP.

Also read: PHC chief justice nominates KP governor for reserved seats oath