ECP rejects PTI-backed SIC’s request for reserved seats

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) petition for reserved seats, saying it is not eligible for the reserved seats allotted to women and minorities.

The electoral body announced the reserved decision today.

The ECP had reserved the verdict on the petitions filed by the SIC seeking the allocation of women and minority seats after PTI-backed winning candidates joined its ranks following the February 8 elections.

After winning elections without their designated party symbol, PTI-backed lawmakers joined the SIC. The council subsequently appealed to the ECP for reserved seats in the national and three provincial assemblies, excluding Balochistan.

Following deliberations from all parties, the commission reserved its decision on Wednesday, just a day before the inaugural session of the National Assembly, allowing tensions to escalate.

Today, in a 4-1 ruling, the ECP declared that the SIC cannot claim reserved seat quotas due to “irreparable legal deficiencies and violations of mandatory provisions, notably the submission of party lists for reserved seats, as required by law.”

“The seats in the National Assembly shall not remain vacant and will be allotted by proportional representation process of political parties on the basis of seats won by political parties,” the order said.

PTI has already stated that they would take the matter to the Supreme Court if the reserved seats were given to other parties.