The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Monday ruled that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) is not eligible for the reserved seats allotted to women and minorities.
The SIC was joined by PTI-backed lawmakers after winning elections sans their poll symbol, and the council had written to the ECP seeking allocation of reserved seats in the national as well as three provincial assemblies, excluding Balochistan.
After hearing arguments from all sides, the commission had reserved its verdict on Wednesday, a day before the maiden session of the National Assembly, allowing the controversy to simmer.
In a 4-1 verdict issued today, the ECP said the SIC is not entitled to claim quota for reserved seats due to having “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 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 leader Ali Zafar has demanded the immediate resignation of the Election Commission of Pakistan and sought proceedings against the Chief Election Commissioner under Article 6 (treason) of the Constitution.
Speaking during a Senate session, he said the PTI had prepared a resolution in this regard which would be presented shortly.
Zafar’s announcement came moments after the ECP rejected the Sunni Ittehad Council’s plea regarding the allocation of reserved seats.
“They cannot stay in this position for a minute longer,” Zafar said, adding that the ECP had violated the Constitution through this verdict.
Ali Zafar has termed the ECP’s decision on the matter of SIC reserved seats “the last dagger in the heart of democracy”.
“It is our responsibility to follow the Constitution,” he said in a speech at the Senate.
“If our share is being given to other parties then this is a constitutional mistake that the ECP has committed,” Zafar stressed, highlighting that today’s verdict had proven that the electoral watchdog failed to fulfil its responsibility of holding free and fair elections.
