July 12, 2024
By Rana Malhi
ISLAMABAD
In a widely lauded decision, a full-court bench of the Supreme Court declared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) eligible for seats reserved for women and minorities.
The decision, made by a majority of eight on the 13-member SC bench, ruled that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf should be considered a political party, and granted reserved seats. The decision was announced by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and was read out by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.
The SC decision could impact as many as 22 seats in the National Assembly, leading to major ramifications for the composition of the lower house of the parliament. The PTI has been granted 15 days to file documents that will allow the party to get the reserved seats.
The Supreme Court had reserved its decision on July 9, after hearing appeals filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) against the denial of reserved seats for women and non-Muslims by the Peshawar High Court and the Election Commission of Pakistan. The PTI-backed candidates that had won the Feb 8 elections as independents after their party was denied the election symbol of cricket bat, had formed a coalition with the SIC.
Justices Mansoor Ali Shah, Munib Akhtar, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha Malik, Athar Minallah, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Shahid Waheed and Irfan Saadat Khan gave the majority verdict. Justices Aminuddin Khan and Naeem Akhtar Afghan dismissed the appeals, while Yahya Afridi wrote a separate note. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail ruled that the ECP had wrongly interpreted the January 13 order.
The PTI members appeared in a celebratory mood. Kanwal Shouzab, President PTI women’s wing, welcomed the SC decision. Momina Basit, PTI Joint Secretary, stated that the ruling would protect the vote of 52 percent women of Pakistan. Sarwan Kumar Bheel, a PTI minority member, said, “Today is a happy day for the minority members in the party.
However, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Law Minister, expressed concerns, stating that the decision has raised many questions. “People who understand law will continue to condemn it.”
Sharjeel Inam Memon, PPP leader, objected to the decision, claiming that the tradition of supporting “Laadlas” is continuing in Pakistan.