Today, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a seven-page verdict, indicating a delay in the upcoming Senate election scheduled for April 2 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to unresolved issues concerning lawmakers’ oath-taking for reserved seats in the province.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) released the verdict on Thursday, addressing the application for the oath administration to lawmakers and suspending the Senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until oaths are taken.
The verdict underscores the right to vote as fundamental, stating that no voter should be deprived of this right. It affirms the commission’s authority to ensure elections are conducted transparently, justly, and lawfully.
The document specifies that failure to follow issued directions may lead to an extension of the Senate election timeline in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until the oath-taking of Provincial Assembly members is completed.
Opposition parties in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC), requesting intervention regarding the oath-taking of members for reserved seats.
The petition, lodged by members of various political parties, seeks to ensure that members elected to reserved seats are sworn in to participate in the Senate elections. It argues that the delay in oath-taking indicates malintent and asks for the Senate election postponement if the issue remains unresolved.
This situation arises from a standoff between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and opposition parties over the KP governor’s decision to call an assembly session at the opposition’s behest, casting uncertainty on the oath-taking process for reserved seats.
