Senate Opposition Leader and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member, Senator Shibli Faraz, has praised the Supreme Court’s eight-member bench ruling on the issue of reserved seats, calling it a significant win for his party.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament House on Saturday, Faraz, alongside PTI leader Aun Abbas, stated, “We promptly approached the Supreme Court on the reserved seats issue, and the court has now delivered a clear and decisive ruling.” He further emphasized that the ruling clarified the status of PTI members, putting an end to any uncertainties. “The Supreme Court has made it clear – the status of our members is now resolved,” he said.
Faraz also criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for delays in decision-making. He pointed out that while the by-election results in Rahim Yar Khan were swiftly notified, general election results held six months ago still remain undecided.
“The ECP is responsible for conducting the most controversial election in the country’s history,” said Faraz. He expressed concern over the delays in decisions related to PTI, while other political forums saw quick resolutions. Faraz urged the ECP to fulfill its constitutional duty to ensure free and fair elections.
In addition to this, Faraz voiced his frustration over the delayed local body elections, calling it a “malicious act” that was harming Pakistan’s political landscape. He pointed out that election tribunals had not yet announced results, causing further delays in the electoral process.
Earlier, the Supreme Court criticized the delay in implementing its decision on the reserved seats case, warning of serious consequences if the ruling was not enforced. The eight-member bench, which ruled on the case related to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), instructed the ECP to immediately release the list of PTI returned candidates.
The court’s four-page statement also emphasized that the absence of an election symbol does not invalidate a political party’s legal and constitutional rights. “PTI remains a recognized political party and has secured seats in both national and provincial assemblies,” the judges concluded.
