The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has suspended 77 lawmakers elected to reserved seats initially denied to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
Following a Supreme Court order, the decision follows a complex legal battle involving reserved seats, primarily contested by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independent candidates under the SIC banner against major parties such as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), and others.
The SIC appealed against a Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict in the Supreme Court’s intervention that upheld the allocation of these seats to other parties. The ECP initially rejected SIC’s plea, leading to their legal challenge. The apex court, in response, suspended the PHC’s decision, accepting the SIC’s contention that the seats had been improperly allocated.
The largest impact of this suspension is on the PML-N, which saw 44 of its members suspended. Additionally, the PPP had 15 members suspended, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) 13, and various other parties had fewer members affected. The de-notification affected 22 members from the National Assembly alone, including 11 women from Punjab, eight from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and three minority seats.
The repercussions were similarly significant in regional assemblies: 21 women and four minority seat holders in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly were de-notified, alongside 24 women and three non-Muslim legislators in the Punjab Assembly. The Sindh Assembly saw the de-notification of two female MPs and one minority member.
This sweeping decision underscores the ongoing contention and complex dynamics of political representation in Pakistan, specifically concerning reserved seats. The Supreme Court has announced it will hear the case daily starting June 3, emphasizing the urgency and importance of resolving this electoral dispute. This case highlights significant issues regarding the allocation of reserved seats and the broader implications for electoral fairness and representation in Pakistan.
