It was proposed that the ECP distribute the seats based on the candidates’ party affiliation with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A plea prepared by Sahibzada Hamid Raza, the Chairman of the SIC, was presented to the electoral watchdog via a PTI agent in this respect.
The panel had reserved its decision on Wednesday, one day before of the National Assembly’s inaugural session, after hearing arguments from all parties.
According to the electoral watchdog’s ruling today, the Sunni Ittehad Council, which is supported by the PTI, is ineligible for the allocated seats meant for minorities and women.
In accordance with Section 104 of the Election Act and Clause 6 of Article 53 of the Constitution, the ECP declared the split judgment with a 4-1 majority. Hassan Bharwana, an ECP member from Punjab, disagreed with the majority verdict.
Because of its “non curable legal defects and violation of a mandatory provision of submission of party list for reserved seats which is the requirement of law,” the ECP ruled in the ruling that the SIC is not allowed to claim a quota for reserved seats.
According to the ruling, “the seats in the National Assembly shall not remain vacant and shall be allotted by political parties through a proportional representation process based on seats won by political parties.”
