Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faes Isa, has raised concerns regarding the delay in setting a date for elections by former President Arif Alvi on behalf of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). This question arose during a 13-member full court hearing led by the chief justice to address the petition filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) against the denial of reserved seats.
During the hearing, Justice Jamal Mandokhel underscored the principle that it is the candidate’s right, not the party’s, to obtain a symbol and participate in the elections. He stressed that a candidate’s affiliation with a party should not hinder their right to the election symbol.
The Attorney General, Mansoor Usman Awan, presented the government’s written reply opposing the SIC’s plea to allocate reserved seats for women and minorities. The government’s argument is that seats should be allocated based on the total number of seats won by political parties in the elections, as stipulated by the law.
Pl, subscribe to the YouTube channel of RP.
The hearing also revealed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a petition to intervene in the ongoing case, claiming that it and the SIC were eligible for reserved seats but were denied them. The PTI accused the Election Commission of unconstitutionally assigning reserved seats to other political parties, going against national aspirations.
The session further delved into the specifics of candidate affiliations with political parties and their right to election symbols, with Justices emphasizing the importance of party affiliation certificates for contesting elections.
As the hearing concluded, the Supreme Court adjourned the case related to the allotment of reserved seats until Monday, instructing other lawyers to provide lists regarding specific seats of Tehreek-e-Insaf.
