Supreme Court of Pakistan Rules in Favor of Imran Khan’s PTI Party
Islamabad, Pakistan – In a significant legal victory, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party eligible for reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies. This decision, delivered by a 13-member bench with an 8-5 ruling, is a major setback for the coalition government.
Background
The case was initiated by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), a political party whose PTI-backed candidates joined after the February 8 general election. These candidates were forced to contest as independents due to alleged electoral law violations against PTI, which is led by Imran Khan, currently in jail since August.
Election Results
Despite running as independents, PTI candidates won 93 seats in the National Assembly, surpassing other parties. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came second with 75 seats, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) secured third place with 54 seats. The PML-N and PPP formed a coalition government with smaller parties after Khan refused to join hands with any rival party.
Supreme Court’s Decision
The Supreme Court annulled the Peshawar High Court’s ruling and declared the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision null and void, citing it as unconstitutional. PTI members praised the decision, with PTI leader Taimur Khan Jhagra congratulating Imran Khan and supporters, stating, “We are on the right side of history.”
Reserved Seats Controversy
The issue of reserved seats arose after over 80 PTI-backed independent candidates won in the February 8 elections. The SIC approached the ECP for allocation of reserved seats, but the ECP denied the request due to PTI’s failure to submit its list of candidates on time. The SIC then appealed to the Supreme Court after the Peshawar High Court upheld the ECP’s decision.
Impact on Assemblies
The ECP had allocated reserved seats to various parties, including PML-N, PPP, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Pakistan (JUI-F). The Supreme Court’s decision now changes the distribution of these seats, impacting the balance of power in the assemblies.
