ECP likely to decide allocation of reserve seats today

ISLAMABAD  -  The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) combined all petitions related to minority and women reserve seats of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) on Tuesday and postponed the hearing until Wednesday.

A four-member panel, headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and including members Nisar Ahmed Durrani, Shah Muhammad Jatoi, Babar Hassan Bharwana, and Justice (R) Ikram Ullah Khan heard the petition. Barrister Farough Naseem represented Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Barrister Ali Zafar represented the Sunni Ittehad Council, stating they were there to secure their allocated seat. Azam Nazir Tarar from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Farooq H. Naik from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) asserted that they were representing their respective political parties. They emphasized that it is up to the commission to determine whether the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) can secure reserve seat or not.

Barrister Ali Zafar emphasised that his party’s reserved seat cannot be claimed by anyone else, highlighting that the SIC has already submitted a petition to the ECP for the allocation of reserved seats. Barrister Gohar urged the bench to allocate reserved seats to the SIC. The Chief Election Commissioner mentioned that the Election Commission has scheduled the applications for a hearing, and asked Ali Zafar, if he is a party to all of these cases. Azam Nazeer Tarar countered by asking how independent members affiliated with the Sunni Ittehad Council, which failed to win even a single seat, could be granted reserve seats.

He argued that these members, originating from a party rejected by the electorate, did not initially apply for reserved seats. Furthermore, given that the Sunni Ittehad Council is not recognized as a parliamentary party, he questioned their entitlement to reserved seats. The Chief Election Commissioner advised them to leave the matter of reserve seats to the Election Commission for decision. Barrister Ali Zafar stated that they have not yet received copies of the applications and requested the commission to provide them. He assured that they would submit their response today. Farooq H. Naik urged the Election Commission to convene and hear from all parties involved. It is a legal issue, not a political one. Barrister Gohar said that their opponents did not win a seat in Lahore and are asking for SIC seat. Azam Nazir Tarar responded to Barrister Gohar, suggesting that they should reserve these comments for private discussion, media outside the commission premises. Talking to media, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, said that the meeting of the National Assembly will be illegal until a decision is taken on reserve seats. Barrister Gohar said that no assembly session can be held until the reserved seats are decided. He hoped that the decision of the Election Commission will be based on justice.

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