In a development that has sparked political debate across Pakistan, the Supreme Court (SC) issued an interim ruling suspending the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) decision regarding reserved seats, while signaling that a final verdict is imminent. The ruling came in response to a plea by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), adding layers of complexity to the country’s political landscape.
Rana Sanaullah, Prime Minister’s aide on political and public affairs, emphasized during a televised interview on Geo News that the SC’s decision is temporary, with the anticipation of a conclusive judgment in the near future. Sanaullah asserted that the reserved seats in question would not be granted to the SIC, asserting adherence to legal and constitutional frameworks.
According to Sanaullah, the allocation of reserved seats aligns with each party’s parliamentary representation, a principle that he believes stands regardless of electoral outcomes. He further highlighted that the SIC’s scenario, where candidates initially ran independently before affiliating with a party post-elections, complicates the issue of reserved seats.
The SC’s decision to suspend the PHC’s ruling follows the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) rejection of the SIC’s plea, setting the stage for a legal battle over political representation. A three-member bench, chaired by Justice Shah and including Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Athar Minallah, will commence daily hearings on June 3, aiming to resolve the matter swiftly.
Crucially, the SC underscored that the dispute primarily revolves around additional reserved seats allocated to political parties post-elections, raising questions about the interpretation of electoral regulations and the scope of judicial intervention. As the legal proceedings unfold, Pakistan braces for a consequential verdict that could reshape the distribution of political power in
