PHC prevents oath taking on reserved seats

Peshawar: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) Wednesday reserved its decision on the injunction order after the arguments of Qazi Anwar advocate in the case of not allotting reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) requested the PHC to stop the swearing-in of members on reserved seats.

Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Shakeel Ahmed of the PHC heard the case against the decision not to allot reserved seats to the Sunni Unity Council.

PTI's lawyer Qazi Anwar Advocate argued that due to taking the election symbol, PTI candidates contested the election as independents. The successful candidates supported by PTI joined the SIC, 21 reserved women seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and four minority seats were divided into parties.

Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim inquired that this case is only to the extent of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or to the whole country. On which Qazi Anwar replied that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has given the same decision. The ECP said that the SIC has not given any list, therefore they cannot get reserved seats and divided them among the remaining parties, which is wrong.

Justice Shakeel Ahmed asked if their case is that the seats cannot be given to anyone else, to which Qazi Anwar advocate replied that a member has also written a dissenting note.

Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim inquired whether these seats will remain vacant. These seats are reserved for women and minorities, if you don't get it, then it will remain vacant.

Justice Shakeel said that the Election Act says that the list should be given before the election, on which Qazi Anwar Advocate answered that the notification has been done, we want those who have been given seats not to take oath.

The court said that you want them to be restrained from swearing, we will look into it and then make an order.

Later, the Peshawar High Court reserved its decision on the injunction after the arguments of Qazi Anwar Advocate.

Petition filed for reserved seats of SIC

Earlier, in the PHC, the SIC filed a petition for reserved seats in the Assembly, in which the Election Commission was made a party.

It was stated in the petition that we have joined the SIC, now independent candidates of PTI are part of the Sunni Ittehad Council.

It was said in the application that the reserved seats are given in proportion to the general seats in the election, the list of reserved seats can be given even after the election.

Later, the Peshawar High Court fixed for hearing the petition filed against the decision not to allot the reserved seats to the SIC.

Earlier, the Sunni Ittehad Council withdrew the petitions filed in the PHC for allotment of specific seats.

Peshawar High Court Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Shakeel Ahmed heard the petitions.

During the hearing, the lawyer of the petitioner SIC took the stand that the ECP issued a decision regarding reserved seats, so we are withdrawing the petitions.

The lawyer of the Sunni Ittehad Council also said that they will file a new application related to the reserved seats.

On the request to withdraw the petitions, the court disposed of the petitions.