National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has formally urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to prioritize parliamentary law over court rulings regarding reserved seats.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner, Sadiq challenged a recent Supreme Court decision, stating that amendments made to the Election Act override the court’s ruling.
The Supreme Court had previously allowed independent candidates to join political parties after winning elections, which could change their political allegiance.
However, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq pointed out that Parliament passed an amendment to the Election Act on August 7, 2024, which prohibits independent candidates from switching their affiliation after joining a party post-election.
Sadiq argued that this new legislation supersedes the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling and emphasized that the Election Commission must now adhere to the updated law.
He further explained that previous court decisions cannot retroactively impact the amendments made to the Election Act.
The Speaker also stressed the importance of parliamentary supremacy, calling on the ECP to ensure full implementation of the new provisions, especially those related to reserved seats and political affiliations. He highlighted the ECP’s constitutional responsibility to enforce laws passed by Parliament and attached copies of the amended legislation for reference.
This situation is likely to spark further debate on the balance of power between Pakistan’s judiciary and Parliament and could influence future discussions about electoral processes in the country.
