SC slams ECP’s ‘dilatory tactics’ in reserved seats case

In a important development, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) request for clarification on its July 12 verdict regarding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) eligibility for reserved seats.

The eight-member bench, in a statement, termed the ECP’s move as a “contrived device” and “adoption of dilatory tactics.”

In its clarification, the Supreme Court stated, “Putting together the record placed before us, and considering the same in light of the short order, leaves in little doubt that the clarification sought by the commission is nothing more than a contrived device and adoption of dilatory tactics.”

On July 12, a 13-member bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, ruled that the PTI is eligible for the allocation of reserved seats, dealing a major setback to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ruling coalition.

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah announced the 8-5 majority verdict, setting aside the Peshawar High Court’s (PHC) order wherein it had upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision denying the reserved seats to the SIC.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Naeem Afghan, Justice Yahya Afridi, and Justice Ameenuddin Khan opposed the majority decision.

It should be noted here that after the reserved seats verdict, the ECP had approached the Supreme Court seeking legal and constitutional guidance on the matter of the remaining PTI lawmakers in the national and provincial assemblies.