The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on Friday its decision to comply with the Supreme Court’s order in the reserved seats case, following a landmark ruling by a 13-judge full bench of the top court on July 12. The verdict overturned the previous decisions of the ECP and Peshawar High Court (PHC), which had deprived the SIC – supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) – of reserved seats, subsequently awarding them to the ruling coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
In a highly contested 8-5 majority short verdict, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of PTI’s eligibility for reserved seats for women and minorities in both the national and provincial assemblies. This decision not only reconfigured the political landscape by stripping the ruling alliance of its two-thirds majority but also positioned PTI as the single largest party in both houses of the assembly.
After a crucial meeting on Thursday to discuss the verdict, the electoral watchdog failed to reach a consensus, prompting a postponement of the discussion to Friday. However, a press release issued by the ECP today affirmed its decision to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling. The commission instructed its legal team to identify and address any obstacles in the implementation process to seek further guidance from the Supreme Court if necessary.
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Amid mounting pressure, particularly from the PTI, the ECP vehemently rejected calls for the resignation of its members, labeling the demand as “ridiculous” and affirming its commitment to executing its duties in accordance with the constitution and the law. Additionally, the ECP clarified that it did not misconstrue any previous decisions, strongly refuting the minority judgment’s claim that the commission had misinterpreted the court’s ruling from January 13.
The ECP’s decision to adhere to the Supreme Court’s judgment signifies a pivotal development in Pakistan’s political landscape, reshaping the allocation of reserved seats and potentially influencing the balance of power within the national and provincial assemblies.
