PML-N challenges reserved seats verdict in SC

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has submitted additional arguments to the Supreme Court seeking review of its July 12 verdict on reserved seats, alleging misuse of Article 187 judicial powers.

In its application, PML-N contends:

1. Article 187’s “complete justice” authority was improperly invoked against settled judicial principles
2. The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) filed appeals for reserved seats with zero members
3. The verdict stripped SIC of both reserved seats and its existing members
4. No SIC member among the claimed 80 ever appeared before courts
5. SIC and PTI cannot be treated as single entity

The party argued the court exercised unlimited powers under Article 187 on issues never part of the original record. PML-N demands reconsideration of the judgment that allocated reserved seats contrary to constitutional provisions.

Reserved seats case: hearing adjourned till May 29

Earlier SC had adjourned hearings on review petitions concerning reserved parliamentary seats until May 29, with the Sunni Ittehad Council’s counsel Faisal Siddiqui continuing his arguments before an 11-member bench led by Justice Aminuddin. During proceedings, Siddiqui made the paradoxical assertion that “we win even after losing,” while defending his simultaneous representation of both PTI and SIC without formal permission. The hearing focused on the Election Commission’s disputed allocation of seats, with justices questioning why joining rights weren’t uniformly applied to all candidates.

Siddiqui revealed that 11 of 13 judges in the original verdict had supported awarding seats to PTI, while the current review challenges the minority opinion. The case resumes Thursday, with the court’s decision potentially reshaping the National Assembly’s composition.