PTI parliamentary committee rejects SC verdict on reserved seats

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentary committee has categorically rejected the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench verdict, which set aside its July 12, 2024, judgment. That ruling had reinstated PTI as a parliamentary party and allowed it to secure reserved seats in the legislature.

Last week, the Supreme Court overturned its July 12 ruling on reserved seats, accepting review petitions and upholding the Peshawar High Court’s decision. As a result, the PTI lost its reserved seats.

In response to the court’s ruling, PTI held a crucial meeting of its parliamentary committee in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss the implications of the recent verdict.

The meeting, attended by PTI members of the National and Provincial Assemblies, senators, and central leadership, focused on analysing the political landscape post-verdict and formulating a parliamentary strategy. It also saw heated exchanges between some leaders, suggesting internal party tensions.

Amir Dogar, a member of the National Assembly, initiated the discussion by presenting a written message from imprisoned PTI leaders, expressing concern over their mistreatment and lack of medical facilities in jail.

Sheikh Waqas Akram revealed that seven party workers had lost their lives due to illness while in jail, and prisoners’ basic rights were being denied. Nisar Jutt criticised K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur over the provincial budget, stressing that party leaders should avoid making contradictory statements without mutual consultation.

Jutt also reaffirmed support for PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, stating that he was appointed by the founder and, therefore, has the full mandate of the party.

Ali Muhammad Khan supported inter-party negotiations during the meeting, mentioning that if the leadership chooses to negotiate, the party would support it. However, if protests were chosen, the party would also participate.

Zartaj Gul proposed that protests should be held at the constituency level instead of in Islamabad and suggested forming an empowered committee for negotiations.

A unanimous resolution was passed during the meeting, calling for every possible effort to secure the release of the founding chairman, ensuring the health and well-being of other imprisoned leaders, and rejecting the court’s verdict on reserved seats. The resolution also demanded that PTI leaders and lawyers be allowed to meet Imran Khan immediately.

After the meeting, Barrister Gohar, Salman Akram Raja, Gandapur, and Akram held a press conference to clarify the party’s stance. Gandapur said the party is ready to sacrifice everything for the release of founder Imran Khan.

He added that if anyone attempts to topple their government through unconstitutional means, he would quit politics. Raja stated that Pakistan’s resources have been looted for eight decades and emphasised the need to fight for the basic rights of the people.

Barrister Gohar reiterated that the party follows the instructions of the founder, and any decisions regarding negotiations, protests, or other political actions will be made with his approval.

Akram maintained that there is complete unity within the party and that the political and legal struggle will continue under the founder’s leadership. He also reaffirmed the party’s unanimous rejection of the court’s decision on reserved seats.

SC overturns PTI’s claim to reserved seats

The Supreme Court overturned a 2024 judgment that had allowed PTI to claim reserved seats in national and provincial legislatures.

The order issued by a 10-member constitutional bench allowed multiple review petitions filed by the ruling coalition and dismissed its earlier decision that had recognised PTI, through its alliance with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), as eligible for reserved seats.

With a majority of seven judges the top court ruled in favour of the review, effectively annulling the apex court’s July 12, 2024, verdict. That judgment had previously restored PTI’s status as a parliamentary party and ordered the ECP to allocate reserved seats for women and minorities.

Following the new decision, nearly 80 reserved seats in national and provincial assemblies will be reallocated among other parliamentary parties, excluding the SIC. The move gives the ruling coalition a two-thirds majority in parliament.

It is worth noting that the Peshawar High Court had earlier dismissed the SIC’s challenge to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision, which had refused to allocate reserved seats to the party.

Earlier, in its short order on July 12, 2024, eight out of 13 judges concluded that 39 out of 80 MNAs on the list were elected candidates of the PTI, positioning it as the largest party in the National Assembly.