ECP Meeting on PTI Reserved Seats Remains Inconclusive; SC Guidance May Be Sought
Key Points:
- ECP Meeting: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) held a meeting to discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling on PTI’s eligibility for reserved seats but did not reach a decision.
- SC Guidance: An ECP official suggested that further directions from the Supreme Court might be needed.
- LHC Consultation: Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja met Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum regarding the appointment of election tribunals in Punjab.
Meeting Details: The ECP meeting, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja via video link, included ECP members and senior officials. They focused on the Supreme Court’s July 12 judgement concerning PTI’s reserved seats. The ECP’s legal team presented various legal aspects, and another meeting is scheduled for today (Friday) to reach a conclusion.
Supreme Court Ruling: The Supreme Court, in an 8-5 majority verdict, declared PTI eligible for reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in the National and provincial assemblies, potentially making it the single largest party in both houses of parliament.
Notification and Verification: An ECP official mentioned that 39 PTI MNAs’ notifications were straightforward, but the documents of 41 other MNAs require detailed scrutiny. These independents must file notarized statements within 15 days, explaining their candidacy for a particular party. The ECP will then notify the respective party for confirmation and publish the list of returned candidates.
Concerns Raised: The ECP official raised concerns about contacting PTI for verification due to its lack of structure and unrecognized intra-party elections. This may require seeking further directions from the Supreme Court.
Consultation with LHC Chief Justice
Meeting Context: Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja met LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum to discuss the appointment of election tribunals in Punjab. This follows the Supreme Court’s suspension of an LHC order and notification regarding tribunal appointments after an ECP appeal.
Background: The previous LHC chief justice formed six additional election tribunals for Punjab, which the ECP found redundant due to a new ordinance empowering it to appoint retired judges. The Supreme Court suspended this LHC order and subsequent notification.
Conclusion: The situation remains unresolved, with the ECP likely to seek further clarification from the Supreme Court. The next steps include another ECP meeting and continued consultation with judicial authorities
