In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has declared Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities, dealing a significant blow to the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The 13-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, announced the verdict, which was met with jubilation from PTI supporters.
The court’s decision nullified the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) earlier ruling, which had denied PTI reserved seats due to its lack of election symbol. The verdict stated that the ECP’s decision was “unconstitutional” and “beyond the powers of the Constitution.”
PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, celebrated the decision, with many demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja. The party’s official account tweeted, “Justice has been served! The Supreme Court has declared PTI eligible for reserved seats. We demand the immediate resignation of CEC Raja for violating the Constitution of Pakistan.”
The decision is seen as a significant victory for PTI, which had been denied reserved seats despite winning general seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies. The ruling coalition, which had benefited from the ECP’s earlier decision, suffered a setback, losing its two-thirds majority in the lower house of Parliament.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar expressed reservations about the verdict, stating that it had “gone beyond interpretation” and rewritten Articles 51 and 106 of the Constitution. However, he acknowledged that the decision would be respected.
The reserved seats issue had been a contentious one, with PTI challenging the ECP’s decision in court. The Supreme Court’s verdict has set a precedent for future allotment of reserved seats among political parties in the legislature.
