Today, the ECP will meet to discuss the SC reserved seat ruling.
The restoration of the Peshawar High Court’s decision will be one of the main topics on the agenda.
The chief election commissioner will preside over the meeting, which will involve consultations with the legal team and all commission members.
After the meeting later today, the official announcement of the candidates’ victories is anticipated.
Additionally, the Supreme Court’s July 12 decision will also be reviewed, especially with future decisions regarding the Sunni Ittehad Council.
See also: ECP dismisses criticism following the Supreme Court’s reserved seat ruling
In response to fresh criticism after the constitutional bench of the highest court’s ruling on reserved seats, ECP had previously rejected what it described as “baseless propaganda” that was being spread in some media circles.
Following the dismissal of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-turned Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) review petition concerning the distribution of reserved seats by the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench, criticism surfaced.
The ruling coalition, headed by the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), is able to establish a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and become the single largest party as a result of this decision.
The ECP has reaffirmed its constitutional role and defended the legitimacy of its rulings in the face of changing political circumstances, claiming that the claims were untrue and meant to deceive the public.
It was a victory for the ruling parties on the legal front as the SC constitutional bench has set aside the appex court’s July 12, 2024 judgment, which had resurrected the PTI as a parliamentary party and allowed it to get reserved seats in legislatures.
See also: PTI’s legal battle over reserved seats is lost
“For detailed reasons to be recorded later, subject to amplification or elucidation as may be deemed appropriate, by a majority of 7, all civil review petitions are allowed and the impugned majority judgment dated 12.07.2024 is set aside.
“As a consequence thereof, Civil Appeal Nos 33 of 2024 and 334 of 2024 filed by the SIC [Sunni Ittehad Council] are dismissed and the judgment rendered by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) is restored,” said a short order issued by the 10-member CB led by Justice Aminuddin Khan.
With the exception of Justice Khan, the majority order was signed by Justice Musarrat Hilali, Justice Naeem Akhter Afghan, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Ali Baqar Najafi.
